Arran islanders 'upset' over latest Caledonian Isles setback
The boat might not be back until March
An Arran islander admits the news the MV Caledonian Isles could be delayed until next spring has ‘knocked the residents down.’
Visit Arran’s Sheila Gilmore was speaking after ferry operator Calmac announced the ferry could be out of action until March.
The setback is just the latest in a torrid yeah for the 31-year-old vessel, which hasn’t been seen on the crossing to Brodick since January.
The absence of one of the largest ships in the fleet has caused months of disruption and, speaking exclusively to Clyde 1 Ayrshire, life-long islander Sheila insists 2024 has been a struggle.
She said: “I think the announcement today about the delay to the Caledonian Isles, I think it would be fair to say we are shocked and disappointed, that’s an understatement.
“We are resilient, everything is interlinked on an island and this is just something else that has come to knock us all down really, it’s so disappointing and, its really upsetting.”
Calmac say the Caledonian Isles was due back on November 20th following issues identified during sea trials in September.
However, that timetable has now been pushed back after the company found further repairs are needed to the ferry's stern tube bearings, and to sections of steelwork in two areas of the vessel.
They added they don’t yet know how long the additional work will take to complete, due to to uncertainty around drydock availability and around the full scope of the repairs.
But Sheila disputes Calmac’s timeline of November, saying they originally expected the ship back much earlier.
“I mean we have not seen the vessel since last January,” she added.
“And we were told initially she’d be back for Easter.
“So, to say, she was expected back in the November is a slight understatement of the whole situation.”
CalMac interim chief executive 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."
The ferry operator said if new bearings are needed, it could take until mid-December for the first one to arrive.
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