CalMac facing 'unprecedented' ferry crisis with eight major vessels out of action
Passengers warned that ‘scenario we are in may be the most pressing we’ve faced’
CalMac has warned of widespread disruption across the west coast caused by an “unprecedented” situation with up to eight of its major ferries out of action or undergoing repairs.
The latest nightmare for the UK’s largest ferry operator is affecting routes to Arran, Barra, Coll, Colonsay, Islay, Mull, South Uist and Tiree - with bad weather forecast for the weekend expected to force further cancellations.
The intensifying problems with CalMac’s unreliable ships - which have affected its newest vessels as well as some older ferries - comes a day before the start of the summer timetable and just over a week before the busy Easter holidays.
A CalMac circular to affected communities stated: “We know the network has been under sustained pressure in recent years, but the scenario we are in right now may be the most pressing we’ve faced.”
Chief executive Duncan Mackison said on Friday: “This disruption is affecting virtually every island served by a major vessel and we are profoundly sorry for that.”
Three ferries have suffered “technical issues” while a further four are off on scheduled annual refit, and brand new vessel Isle of Islay will not now officially enter service to Islay until at least Wednesday - five days later than scheduled.
Among islanders worst hit are those in Arran, where both main routes, which are among CalMac’s busiest, were suspended again on Thursday morning because their two operating ferries were out of action.
It came a week after the island was cut off from the mainland by ferry faults and bad weather.
The 32-year-old Caledonian Isles underwent sea trials on Thursday evening following repairs that has kept it in dock since Sunday, with no sailings between Ardrossan and Brodick. They resumed on Friday.
Meantime, the fault-prone, year-old Glen Sannox hit yet another problem, with a damaged exhaust forcing the cancellation of its Troon-Brodick sailings until Tuesday.
They had resumed at 3pm on Thursday after the fault was repaired, but the 7.20pm sailing from Troon was then cancelled because of a “reoccurring issue” with the port [left] engine which is suspected to be with the exhaust.
CalMac said on Friday: “We’re taking Glen Sannox off service until Tuesday to try and permanently resolve the exhaust issue.
It said that would allow a “full and thorough investigation and establish a root cause.
“The crew will inspect the exhaust system all the way from base to funnel.
“We’re taking the time to permanently resolve this issue with a view to ensuring Glen Sannox returns next week and there’s a level of confidence that the issue is resolved and she will remain in service ahead of and throughout Easter weekend and holidays .”
The vessel’s previous glitches have include engine problems and a propeller which caused vibration that cracked the hull.
The Scottish Government’s ferry-owning arm earlier told The Scotsman it would be “surprised and unhappy” if further faults were found.
Warranty claims against the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow where it was built are already expected to total £3.2 million.
Arran Ferry Committee secretary Bill Calderwood described the situation as “seriously concerning”.
“We have lost approximately 150 sailing this month, and confidence in travelling to Arran had been impacted.
“We cannot continue with these levels of disruptions.”
Sheila Gilmore, chief executive of VisitArran, said: “It's just frustrating, for any islander, and island business.
“We all want to be able to plan in advance, for work, medical appointments and pleasure.
“Our islands are open, and are looking stunning. We want to welcome visitors to experience all that we have to offer - and have worked hard for.
“This ongoing negativity is another slap in the faces of all the islands affected."
Elsewhere, the 43-year-old Isle of Arran, which was standing in on the main Mull route between Oban and Craignure, is also out of action due to a fault with its fire suppression system that occurred on Wednesday.
CalMac added: “Whilst she has been off service, we’ve found damaged couplings on the bow thruster.
“The requirement to source spares and carry out repairs to this means that she is unavailable until these are sourced and fitted, likely to be early next week.”
Isle of Islay, which arrived from its Turkish shipyard last month, is on sea trials following a series of ”snagging issues”.
Finlaggan will operate a single-vessel service on the Islay route between Kennacraig in Kintyre and Port Askaig instead, until at least Wednesday.
CalMac said the ferry would not have enough space to carry all booked passengers on Friday, or on Monday if Isle of Islay’s debut is further delayed.
A CalMac spokesperson said: “The crew are doing their utmost to prepare the vessel for service and have resolved more snagging issues and identified a suspected root cause of the intermittent issue with the power management system.
“To provide certainty to customers travelling early next week, we will continue with a single-vessel Finlaggan timetable on Monday and Tuesday.
“We are hopeful that, subject to further trials over the weekend, Isle of Islay may be able to begin a phased entry to service on Monday and Tuesday and carry out additional sailings alongside Finlaggan.”
Jim Porteous, secretary of Islay Community Council and Ferry Committee, said: "Starting the summer timetable with only one ship instead of the two which were timetabled is most disappointing, as is the delay in Isle of Islay's ability to join the service.
“Serious damage will be caused if this isn't resolved very quickly.
“What an appalling start to the summer timetable in the run up to Easter.”
Other affected services include on the main Mull route, which has been reduced from two to one ferries - Coruisk.
CalMac said Barra and South Uist also had a reduced service by having to share a vessel - Isle of Mull, which normally operates to Mull.
Coll, Tiree and Colonsay are also being served by a smaller vessel than normal - Lord of the Isles instead of Clansman.
The ferries undergoing maintenance are Alfred, which is due back on the Troon-Brodick route on April 6, Loch Frisa, due to return to the main Mull route on April 9, Hebrides, due back on Skye-Harris-North Uist routes across the Little Minch on April 15, and Isle of Lewis, due back on the Barra route at the end of May after extended work to replace steelwork.
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “The SNP has completely failed our island communities and our coastal communities as well, and left them high and dry.
“We would bring in a ferries Bill, which would see a 30-year procurement programme which involves communities and recognises that our ferry fleet is ageing and our communities absolutely rely on these boats.”
Mr Mackison said: “We are in an unprecedented situation where four major vessels are in overhaul, three are off service with technical issues and there’s a risk to our newest vessel entering service for the start of our summer timetable.
“Collectively, this is causing network-wide issues and impacting service levels for Arran, Barra, Coll, Colonsay, Islay, Mull, South Uist and Tiree.
“Isle of Islay will not be able to enter service until at least Monday to allow the crew to work through outstanding issues, and they’ll have the full support of the wider business over the weekend to do so.
“The single-vessel service can accommodate booking volumes on Saturday and Sunday and in cancelling Friday’s two-vessel service early, we’ve done what we can to give affected customers the chance to make alternative travel plans.
“Our aim is to get services back to planned levels ahead of and during the upcoming Easter weekend and holidays, and we’ll continue to keep island communities informed of our efforts to do so.”
A CalMac spokesperson added: “The weather forecast over the weekend means we expect a number of routes to see cancellations.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.