Latest news with #CaleyIsles
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Ferry service to resume between Ardrossan and Arran
The company will deploy either MV Lord of the Isles or MV Isle of Arran on the route if MV Caledonian Isles is forced to go into dry dock for further lengthy repairs. The Ardrossan to Arran service is expected to run between Monday, July 7 and Monday, July 21. READ MORE: That's the period when the second ferry running to Arran from Troon - the chartered MV Alfred - will be removed from service for essential maintenance. A CalMac spokesperson told The Herald his week that there remained a chance that the troubled and ageing MV Caledonian Isles could be fit to return to the Ardrossan service. An announcement is expected within days. MV Lord of the Isles (Image: Newsquest) If the Caley Isles does have to return to dry dock, the spokesperson said either MV Lord of the Isles or MV Isle of Arran would sail from Ardrossan until MV Alfred returns to full service. Ardrossan has been without a ferry service since January. Back in January 2024, MV Caledonian Isles went in for an annual service - and didn't return. Major issues were discovered and lengthy repairs began. At first, it was hoped the vessel would be back on the route by summer that year. Return dates were announced... and cancelled. MV Isle of Arran was redeployed to the Ardrossan route, with hopes high that the Caley Isles would be fit to return to service by January 2025. That month, the new MV Glen Sannox set sail for Arran from Troon, rather than Ardrossan. The vessel can't sail from the North Ayrshire port until a major upgrade of Ardrossan Harbour is completed. Hopes remained high that the Caley Isles would be fit to return to service that same month. It didn't happen. And when MV Isle of Arran had to return to the Hebridean route in January, Ardrossan was left without any ferry service at all. Now, at last, it seems that a regular service between Ardrossan and Arran will be back... for the duration of MV Alfred's maintenance at least.
The National
13-06-2025
- The National
MV Caledonian Isles ferry delayed due to last minute issue
The ferry has been out of action since January 2024 due to a series of faults found in its annual overhaul. It was initially meant to return to service on Thursday, but this was postponed until Friday due to adverse weather conditions. However, the return of the Caley Isles has been delayed again "due to issues picked up during sea trials". READ MORE: Tributes pour in as Scotland's first black professor, Sir Geoff Palmer, dies aged 85 The ferry operator said that while trials have gone well, a "gearbox issue relating to pressure levels" still needs to be resolved. Once the issue is fixed, the vessel will need to go undergo sea trials again before it can return to service. The MV Caledonian Isles will not be back in service before Tuesday, June 17 at the earliest. CalMac said it would provide an update on June 16. In the meantime, the MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred will continue to provide a two-vessel replacement service from Troon until further notice. READ MORE: Scottish council urged to remove 'far-right racist' banners from town landmark A CalMac spokesperson said: 'Whilst this will be disappointing news, a two-vessel service from Troon will remain in place for now, to ensure Arran has a reliable service with appropriate capacity. 'We carry out sea trials to identify and address issues and that is what we've done here. It's been a long road to get to this point with MV Caledonian Isles and, in the context of where we've been, we are still confident we will see her carrying passengers between Ardrossan and Brodick imminently.'
