Scotland's busiest ferry Caledonian Isles out of service for over a year faces further delay

CalMac has said Scotland’s busiest ferry – which has been out of service for over a year – is facing a further delay.

MV Caledonian Isles, which had been scheduled to return to service on March 28, requires extra time in dry dock for machining of stern tubes and is now expected back by mid-April.

It was initially due to return to the Ardrossan-Brodick route on September 23, 2024, but problems with the port gearbox forced the vessel to dock in Greenock for further investigation and repairs.

Caledonian Isles was to join the long-awaited Glen Sannox to serve Arran and operate from Troon as part of a two-vessel service to the island from Ardrossan from March.

MV Alfred is to be deployed to serve the route in the meantime.

In November last year, two further areas of work were identified, with both stern tube bearings needing to be replaced or repaired and additional steelwork replacement needed.

During the inspection, eight frames were found to be “deformed” in two areas of the vessel and a need for significant steel replacement was identified.

MV Isle of Lewis, which operates to Barra, is delayed in overhaul and, instead of returning on Monday, February 28, will now return to service on Sunday, March 23, CalMac said.

The operator also confirmed the Campbeltown to Ardrossan service will not operate this summer due to lack of vessel availability.

Duncan Mackison, CalMac’s CEO, said the operator was dealing with an “exceptional set of circumstances”.

He said: “Challenges with several vessels in the fleet have converged at the same time, creating a significant capacity issue which leaves us with difficult choices to make in terms of service provision.

“Given the age of our fleet and the need to overhaul all vessels outside of the busy summer season, our vessels are spending a record amount of time in overhaul this winter.

“This stretches our services and, when unplanned delays such as those we’re experiencing with MV Isle of Lewis and MV Clansman are factored in, our resources to the limit

“With MV Isle of Lewis and MV Clansman delayed in overhaul, MV Isle of Mull operating a reduced capacity and MV Caledonian Isles still in for repairs, we’re operating with approximately one third of our major vessels unavailable or carrying restrictions. Despite this we are maintaining core services to all island communities.”