CALMAC CONFIRM “WORST EVER” FERRY SHORTAGE
As the ferries crisis deepened along the West Coast, Caledonian MacBrayne has written to all community groups warning them that “the scenario we are in right now may be the most pressing we’ve faced”.
Sustained failure to replenish the ageing fleet has caught up in dramatic fashion as the start of another summer timetable beckons, leaving many island businesses in despair and reports emerging of cancelled bookings due the absence of reliable ferry connections.
In an unprecedented move, CalMac said on Sunday that as from Tuesday: “MV Clansman will operate a service between Uig-Castlebay/Tarbert/Lochmaddy. This means services for Barra, North and South Uist will be via Uig on Skye. Customers on Harris are asked to travel on Ullapool-Stornoway wherever possible”.
With vessels in drydock for extended periods, CalMac’s woes have been compounded by repeated breakdowns to the MV Glen Sannox, which cost a quarter billion pounds to build and arrived seven years late.
Just a few weeks ago, the vessel was supposed to be deployed temporarily to the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy routes. Instead, she is out of action again “reporting an issue with the port engine” – leaving Arran with “no major vessels currently in service” as the Caledonian Isles awaits sea trials.
A new vessel, MV Isle of Islay – which had also been earmarked for bringing relief to Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy if trials to find is she fits the port infrastructure were positive – is instead “conducting sea trials to rectify a small number of outstanding issues and is at significant risk of not being in service for the start of the summer timetable”.
MV Isle of Lewis, which normally operates on the Barra route, is facing an “extended drydock for steelwork” and and is not due back in service until the end of May. The MV Hebrides is due back on April 15th though this remains uncertain.
CalMac added: “This is a fast-moving situation, and we expect more updates to come to you throughout the day. We’re doing everything we can to get vessels back in service as quickly as possible.”
All travellers, with or without bookings, are strongly advised to check the CalMac web-site to learn of latest developments.