Scotland’s ferry operator has warned of a “perfect storm” of problems for the network with a planned-for vessel’s return delayed again after more than eight months on the sidelines.
CalMac has said that the ageing MV Caledonian Isles will remain out of service until at least the middle of next month after problems emerged with its gearbox, just as it was about to make its long-awaited return to service.
The absence of the vessel, one of the largest in the fleet, will have a major knock-on effect on the rest of the network as it coincides with the start of this year’s annual maintenance schedule for all the ferry operator’s ships.
Bosses have had to tear up a winter schedule based on having the MV Caledonian Isles available, and will now have to regularly review how and where it can deploy vessels during the winter months.
The ferry operator is warning of disruption ahead as it struggles to fill routes and serve passengers and communities across Scotland's far-flung islands.
CalMac has extended a temporary deployment plan until Sunday 20 October, which is the end of the summer timetable period.
“The combination of MV Caledonian Isles ongoing technical issues and the start of this year’s maintenance window has created a perfect storm for ferry services.
“We have a baseline deployment plan for the winter timetable period which allows for MV Caledonian Isles being is in service. Now, we are likely to have to regularly review where vessels are deployed to try and maintain services across the whole west coast.”
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He added: “Our priority is to keep communities on the network informed of our plans, and meet service demands wherever we can. However, it is in inevitable there will be some disruption and on behalf of CalMac I apologise for that.
“I know this will be disappointing news for local people and many of my colleagues, who live and work in these communities, share in that disappointment. We are doing everything in our gift to provide certainty to people who rely on us to travel, and to add resilience to services wherever possible.”
CalMac will provide an update on future deployment plans by Thursday 17 October.
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