One of Caledonian MacBrayne’s oldest and largest ferries is due to return to service eight months after it was drydocked for repairs.
The ageing MV Caledonian Isles is expected to begin sailing routes to Arran next week once sea trials are completed.
The ferry has been in dock in Liverpool since January this year after being decommissioned during its annual service.
A catalogue of urgent repairs were uncovered, which led to the vessel’s engine being removed and rusted sections being replaced as part of a £5m programme of works.
The ferry is now undergoing final recommissioning work before returning to service – but not before being hit by a final delay.
Work to address this should complete over the weekend, allowing run-up of the engines prior to sea trials on Monday and Tuesday next week.
Almost 20 of CalMac's 31 working ferries that were in service in 2021 and deployed across Scotland are now over 25 years old.
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MV Isle of Arran, which usually serves as the second Arran ferry in the summer, is second only to Isle of Cumbrae in terms of age.
A CalMac spokesperson said: “MV Caledonian Isles is nearing the end of extensive repairs and is due to undertake sea trials early next week prior to returning to serve Arran.
“The vessel is over 30 years old and has been in dry dock for over eight months, so we did anticipate potential challenges during recommissioning work at the tail end of repairs. However, these are being well-managed, and we expect her to be back very soon.
“In the meantime, MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate sailings between Ardrossan-Brodick and MV Alfred will operate the Troon-Brodick service.”
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