Glen Sannox ferry out of action again after another engine fault

The MV Glen Sannox has been taken out of action again after suffering another engine fault, just a week after returning to service.

CalMac has suspended sailings until at least 1pm on Tuesday, due to a “recurring technical issue” with its port engine fuel pump.

The vessel only returned to service last week after repairs to its exhaust system.

One of the West Coast’s best‑used ferry routes, the Troon to Arran crossing, has faced increasing pressure in the recent weeks.

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Virtually every Scottish island has been cut off in recent weeks as state-owned operator CalMac warns of further disruption.

The Glen Sannox, which was delivered millions of pounds over budget, has been plagued by technical issues and breakdowns after little more than a year in service.

The vessel began serving the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde in January 2025, seven years late and four times over budget, and returned to the Troon to Brodick route in March following a three-month annual overhaul and work to address a vibration issue.

Last month, bosses from the Ferguson Marine shipyard that built it told a Holyrood committee that repair costs for the vessel could hit £3.2m after a small crack was discovered in the hull.

The latest setback comes as the Glen Sannox had been expected to be redeployed to the Western Isles from Wednesday, amid an “unprecedented” shortage of vessels due to technical faults.