CalMac ferry passengers left stranded on Isle of Gigha after services cancelled

Dozens of ferry passengers were left stranded on the Isle of Gigha after all services from the island were cancelled.

Operator CalMac said they were forced to cancel sailings on the MV Loch Ranza due to issues with its bilge system.

The ferry has served the small island community of Gigha from the port of Tayinloan on the Kintyre peninsula for three decades, carrying 200 passengers and 12 cars per crossing.

On Wednesday, passengers, including elderly and young children, expecting to travel past 5.30pm were left stranded on the Hebridean island.

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Locals on the island opened up a cafe offering emergency food, accommodation, and medical staff stepped in to prescribe emergency medication to those impacted.

Around 50 passengers were left stranded. STV News

A bilge repair involves maintenance to the lowest part of the boat’s hull, or in the bilge system that removes water from the vessel.

Engineers repaired the vessel while foot passengers were transported by a smaller craft from Tayinloan to the mainland.

A CalMac spokeswoman said: “MV Loch Ranza was removed from the Tayinloan-Gigha service on Wednesday afternoon due to an issue affecting the vessel’s bilge pumps. Shore service engineers attended while we arranged for a passenger charter to carry out a shuttle service to take customers back to the mainland.

“Unfortunately, the charter was unable to transport vehicles, which meant that drivers had to either travel on the charter and return for their cars when service resumed, or stay on the island overnight. This is not ideal, and we are sorry for anyone who was affected by this. A member of CalMac staff was updating drivers who were waiting at the slip on Gigha about the situation, and our customer service team was on hand to help people to find accommodation if required. Anyone affected should contact us to claim back any additional costs they incurred.

“Repairs to MV Loch Ranza have now been successfully completed, and normal service has resumed.”