South Uist ferry services will be affected when CalMac redeploys major vessels for a fortnight from next Monday (July 7) and 21 July to account for a period of essential maintenance for MV Alfred, which operates the Troon-Brodick crossing.   

The ferry operator has published a deployment plan based on not having MV Caledonian Isles in service for this period. This means two of the fleet's few remaining major vessels will be unavailable.  Data gathered from sea trials on the pitch control issues on MV Caledonian Isles are under review by the manufacturer, Kongsberg Marine. 

Between 9-11 July, MV Lord of the Isles, which is usually operating on the Mallaig/Oban-Lochboisdale run, will be off service to hand cylinder head works on the main engines carried out. The works cannot be delayed.  

The amended deployment plan will see Arran served via both Ardrossan and Troon, with MV Isle of Arran repositioning to operate five returns per day from Ardrossan. The only exception is between 9-11 July, when MV Isle of Arran will cover a number of sailings across both Arran and Islay. An amended MV Glen Sannox timetable will operate on single-vessel service days to best meet customer needs on Arran.  

Islay will be served by MV Finlaggan and MV Lord of the Isles throughout, other than 9-11 July. MV Isle of Arran will provide some cover for MV Lord of the Isles during this period. Mull will have reduced capacity, with MV Coruisk and MV Loch Frisa operating a two-vessel service.

MV Coruisk is covering for MV Isle of Mull, which will operate a daily return service to South Uist via Oban. Where possible, MV Isle of Mull will call in at Mull enroute to and from South Uist to add capacity to the island.  

A CalMac spokesperson said:  “Both MV Alfred and MV Lord of the Isles require the works they’ll be off service for, and we are doing the best we can to maintain service levels and meet capacity requirements on all islands with the vessels available to us during this period.  

“There will be disruption on several routes, including Arran, Islay, Mull, South Uist and Colonsay. We’ve taken steps to limit that, but it is unavoidable with two major vessels out of service. Taking steps like splitting MV Isle of Arran between Arran and Islay, or getting MV Isle of Mull to call in on Mull when operating to South Uist, are part of our efforts to give different communities as much capacity as we possibly can.  

“We are grateful to local communities for their support as we’ve worked through a complex set of circumstances and apologise to those who will see services affected between 7 and 21 July.”