Repairs put Arran ferry out of action until June

The main CalMac ferry serving the busy Arran route will be out of action until June.

MV Caledonian Isles will require 16 weeks of steel repair work before it returns to service, the ferry operator has said.

The work will involve removing all the engines and cost about £5m.

CalMac said it could affect the summer timetables, and it would announce any revised vessel deployments early next month.

The 31-year-old ship was originally due to return to service in January after its annual overhaul, but this was delayed when the need for more steel repairs was identified.

Inspections at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead have now found the problems are worse than initially thought and major equipment will have to be removed to get access to corroded sections.

Arran ferry services were already under pressure before the latest announcement.

MV Isle of Arran has had to operate from Troon on some days

The main route between Ardrossan and Brodick is relying on a single, smaller vessel, the 40-year-old MV Isle of Arran.

A chartered catamaran which was providing a relief service was unable to continue operating out of Ardrossan after the harbour's owner Peel Ports announced the emergency closure of the Irish berth for safety reasons.

Some sailings have also had to operate from Troon on some days because the only usable berth at Ardrossan, the Arran berth, cannot be used when there are strong easterly winds.

CalMac chief executive Robbie Drummond said the lengthy repairs for MV Caledonian Isles could have a knock-on affect across the west coast network as vessels were redeployed.

“We know this news will cause concern and frustration for communities across the whole network, and we apologise for this," he said.

He added: “MV Caledonian Isles has served North Ayrshire with distinction for over three decades, but like any ageing vessel the scope of work required in annual overhaul is likely to grow each year.

“Over a third of our vessels are now operating beyond their average life expectancy, and we invested record levels in annual maintenance in 2023.

“We are stretched to the absolute limit in terms of network deployment already, and the arrival of six major and 10 small vessels in the coming years will provide much-needed resilience and reliability to the service. "

Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene said it was "just about the worst possible news" for Arran.

He said: “Its recent absence has been devastating for Arran’s economy and residents and businesses were eagerly anticipating its return to action.

"Now they will shamefully have to wait at least another four months."

Glen Sannox is due to start on the Arran route this summer but problems completing its LNG propulsion system could lead to further delays

A new ferry for the Arran route, MV Glen Sannox, is due to enter service this summer but the Ferguson shipyard is shortly expected to confirm another delay after problems sourcing equipment for its dual-fuel propulsion system.

The expectation is that it will be July or August before Glen Sannox is carrying passengers on the route provided the commissioning of its LNG fuel systems go to plan.

Another new ferry for the Islay route with a less-sophisticated propulsion system is due for delivery by a Turkish shipyard in the autumn.