Scotland’s ferry operator has published a new winter timetable after conceding that one of its largest vessels will not return before March.  

The ageing MV Caledonian Isles was due to be deployed later this month after more than eight months on the sidelines.   

But a series of new defects, uncovered after it was drydocked for repairs on the eve of its return to the network, meant it had to be laid up again.  

Now CalMac has accepted that the vessel will not return till the start of spring – its “worst-case” scenario - meaning a new winter schedule has had to be drawn up.  

The Caledonian Isles will have been out of action for a year by the time it returns The Caledonian Isles will have been out of action for a year by the time it returns (Image: NQ) The company said that key requests from different communities on the west coast have been delivered in the revised plan 

These include the extension of the Claonaig-Lochranza service on Arran, a weekly return directly to Lochboisdale on South Uist from Oban, and all sailings to Colonsay on a Monday in December and January will operate, with those at risk in February and March to be reviewed later. 

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A CalMac spokesperson said that direct services across the network will continue, although the winter period will be “challenging”. 

They said: “Whilst this is a challenging period, our revised deployment plan reflects our efforts to take on board the wide range of feedback we received from islanders and businesses and should allow us to maintain lifeline services and meet demand across all routes on the network. 

“All islands will maintain a direct service under this plan, and we are committed to supporting local communities throughout this period of disruption.”