Repairs hope for veteran CalMac ferry MV Hebridean Isles

Hebridean Isles, seen here in Greenock, has been out of action since February

A CalMac ferry that has been out of action for eight months could be carrying passengers again this weekend.

MV Hebridean Isles has been out of service since February with a series of faults that have led to speculation it might never return.

But after a new round of repairs in Aberdeen, it will carry passengers, cars and freight on the Islay route as part of its operational trials.

Launched in 1986, it is one of the oldest vessels in the CalMac fleet.

MV Hebridean Isles was hit by a number of technical faults in January and February when it was withdrawn from service.

The ship missed the summer season laid up in Troon, Ayr, Greenock and Birkenhead for repairs - but problems with its variable pitch propellers persisted.

MV Hebridean Isles, in dry dock in Troon earlier this year

In late August, the ship arrived in Aberdeen for another attempt at fixing the problems in dry dock by Dales Marine Services.

CalMac has now announced the ferry will provide support services for Islay from 14 to 20 October as part of its post-repair trials.

During this period it will be limited to a maximum of two return sailings per day between Kennacraig and Port Askaig.

An update on whether the ship can return to full service is expected later in the week.

• The problem with CalMac's ageing ferries

CalMac is facing an extremely difficult period as it struggles to keep its ageing vessels in service while awaiting the arrival of new ferries.

Glen Sannox, still being built at Ferguson shipyard, is not due for delivery until next spring at the earliest, while the first of four new ferries being built in Turkey is expected late in 2024.

MV Alfred, a catamaran chartered by CalMac from Pentland Ferries as a relief vessel, is currently out of action with gearbox problems. It had been providing extra capacity on the Arran route over the summer.

MV Hebridean Isles was the first CalMac ship to be built outside Scotland, at the Cochrane yard in Selby, North Yorkshire.

It was also the first to be launched by royalty, by the Duchess of Kent, and the first CalMac vessel to be launched sideways.