Scotland's busiest ferry could be out of service until March after deformed steel found

CalMac has said Scotland’s busiest ferry could be out of service until March after discovering it needs further repairs.

The MV Caledonian Isles was due to return to the Ardrossan-Brodick route on September 23, but problems with the port gearbox forced the vessel to dock in Greenock for further investigation and repairs.

Now two further areas of work have been identified, with both stern tube bearings nearing replaced or repaired and additional steelwork replacement needing done.

CalMac said the Arran ferry could be sent to Norway to be machined; if not, the operator would have to “wait on new bearings” not expected to be available until mid-December.

During inspection, eight frames were found to be “deformed” in two areas of the vessel and a need for significant steel replacement identified.

MV Caledonian Isles was originally scheduled to exit dock in mid-November but CalMac said it is anticipated at least three weeks of repairs will take place after the vessel refloats.

It could remain out of service until the end of the winter timetable in late March in what is described as a “worst-case scenario”.

CalMac’s interim CEO Duncan Mackison said: “The planned scope of work we’d identified for drydock is progressing well, but the discovery of these latest issues has eliminated any chance of a return to service in the short-term.

“We are in no doubt about the current challenges facing the network and the people who rely on it.

“We anticipated a challenging winter, and that is exactly what we’re seeing play out. Any decisions we take around the service off the back of this news will cause disruption in places, and we will now consult with communities to get their valuable input into that service plan.

“Our recent efforts to add resilience to the service, such as through trialling third-party vessels and by bringing forward the drydock work for MV Caledonian Isles, will continue.

“We will leave no stone unturned as we try to meet the needs of the island communities we serve.”

CalMac has said that the MV Hebridean Isles, which is due to retire in November, will stay on the main Arran route while MV Lord of the Isles will continue on the Islay service.

A winter deployment plan has been put in place through until Friday, November 15 before a new plan will take effect the following day.

Details will be published on Wednesday, November 13.