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.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26trim%3D0%2C4%2C0%2C2%26crop%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
Scottish island with endless shingle beaches, own ferry and herd of Highland cows for sale
'Private islands of this scale and calibre almost never come up for sale' Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A Scottish island with endless shingle beaches, smugglers' coves, a herd of Highland cattle and its own ferry is looking for a new owner. Inchmarnock, which sits off the Isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde, is on the market for £2 million. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Strutt & Parker The island was previously transformed by former owner Lord Smith of Kelvin, the Glasgow-born businessmen who has held a number of high-profile leadership roles, including governor of the BBC. Inchmarnock was a 20-year labour of love for the peer, who raised cattle and invested in a detailed archaeological study of the island. The research found that humans first made their home their 3,500 years ago. READ MORE: Large part of Scottish island owned by famed shark hunter comes up for sale The new owner will have 662 acres of coastline, pasture and ancient woodland to play with. Included in the sale is a four-bedroom property located on the neighbouring Isle of Bute, with a ferry to get between the two properties offered at an additional price. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Port House, a four bedroom house on neighbouring Isle of Bute, is included in the sale. A private ferry is offered at an additional price to link the two properties. PIC: Strutt&Parker. | Strutt&Parker Douglas Orr, who is handling the sale for agents Strutt & Parker, said: 'Private islands of this scale and calibre almost never come up for sale. Inchmarnock is a place of natural beauty and untapped potential, offering buyers the chance to secure a private retreat, an eco-tourism project or a long-term legacy estate. 'The land is productive, the infrastructure is in place and its position make it one of the most interesting estates I've handled in recent years.' Steeped in history, Inchmarnock has been inhabited for more than 3,500 years. Its most famous archaeological discovery, the grave of a Bronze Age woman later dubbed the 'Queen of the Inch', was unearthed by a farmer ploughing the land in the 1960s. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad For a time, the island was also thought to have been a haven for smugglers, with its shingle beaches, dense woodland and rugged shoreline offering natural cover for contraband landings. Now, rich in flora and fauna, it is home to red deer, seabirds and a protected grey seal colony. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The island has been carefully managed over the past two decades, with a strong emphasis on low-impact agriculture, biodiversity and preserving the character of the island's landscape. The location supports a pedigree herd of Highland cattle, with about 366 acres of rough grazing and 188 acres of permanent pasture. The land is in year three of organic conversion and stock numbers total around 60 cows and two bulls. The Port House was originally a pair of semi-detached cottages and converted and extended at the turn of the millennium to create a comfortable mainland base. The house's shorefront setting affords it panoramic views across to Inchmarnock and the Kintyre Peninsula. It also includes a garage, boat store and exclusive use of a private slipway. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The offer to buy a private ferry to afford straightforward travel between Bute and the island was a 'rare logistical advantage', the agent said.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Tiny UK airport named among Europe's best - but it's nowhere near London
This small airport in Scotland has been listed as one of the best in Europe by the Airport Service Quality Awards - one of only two UK airports recognised across all categories this year In an era of flashy global airports boasting waterfalls and amusement parks that put Heathrow to shame, there is one small UK airport that is a consistent star. This tiny airport in Scotland has been named one of the best in Europe for the past five years running, in fact. Inverness Airport has been recognised once again by the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Awards. Inverness was listed among the top six airports in Europe which service under two million passengers annually. Airports Council International determines the best airports based on a survey measuring passenger satisfaction. The awards recognises airports with the top 20 percent overall satisfaction score - organised by size and region. Inverness was among six European airports recognised in its section, the only airport in the category in the UK. In fact, the Scottish airport was the only hub in the category not based in Spain. The only other UK airport included in the awards was Newcastle International Airport in the two to five million passengers per year category. Inverness Airport's exemplary staff also received recognition from the Airports Council International. The airport won another ASQ award for having some of the most dedicated airport staff in Europe - for the third year in a row. Graeme Bell, General Manager of Inverness Airport, said: "To win these awards for the fifth consecutive year is an incredible achievement and a proud moment for everyone involved with Inverness Airport. 'Being recognised for the third year running as the Airport with the Most Dedicated Staff in Europe as well is a testament to the hard work, passion, and commitment of our entire team,' Bell continued. Inverness Airport is located nine miles east of Inverness city centre and is a key transport hub for the Highlands and Islands. The airport hosts carriers including Loganair, TUI, KLM, easyJet and British Airways. It offers routes to the likes of London, Majorca, Belfast and the Outer Hebrides. If you interested in experiencing the exceptional customer service first-hand, you might want to consider a festive trip to Finland later this year. Inverness Airport will host a one-day trip to Lapland on December 13, 2025. Passengers will depart from Inverness in the morning and return the same day, experiencing husky rides and ice skating in Lapland in-between. 2024 ASQ Award winners for European airports servicing under two million annual passengers:
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Daily Record
Serena Williams attends Scottish wedding with husband dressed in kilt
Serena Williams has been left gushing over Scotland after recently attending a traditional Scots wedding with her husband Alexis Ohanian. Serena Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian have shared some snaps after attending a wedding in Scotland. The former tennis star, 43, and her hubby, 42, who is the co-founder of Reddit, travelled over from the States to attend a friend's wedding with the pair making their love for Scotland clear as Serena wrote online: "The Scots truly made this experience one for the books." Alex even went all out for the occasion and chose to don a traditional Scots kilt for the special day which Serena definitely seemed to approve of. Taking to Instagram to share a sweet photo of the couple posing outside of the unknown wedding venue, Serena wrote: "Dear Scotland! it was well worth seeing @AlexisOhanian in a kilt! "What a stud! Thank you so much. #ScotlandWedding #love #happilyeverafter #newlyweds #weddingguest #kilt." The tennis pro looked stunning in a black and nude lace dress, with a matching headscarf and shaggy shawl around her arms and black pointed toe black heels. In another post from earlier today, she shared a snap of herself posing outside the Capital's iconic Red Bus in her wedding attire. She wrote: "In Scotland, for a wedding and I'm still missing my time there! I was honored to be at my friend's wedding. The Scots truly made this experience one for the books. She asked her 18M Instagram followers: "Have you been to any weddings abroad? I need deets! ! #ScotlandAdventures #WeddingVibes #TravelDiaries #ExploreScotland #LoveAndFrienship #DestinationWedding #TravelGoals #NatureLovers #MemoriesMade." Delighted fans raced to comment on Serena's snaps from her Scottish trip as one wrote: "Glad you enjoyed your time in Scotland. Best country in the world. Slightly biased opinion." Another replied: "Scottish people always have a great time and are friendly." A third chimed in: "Best place for a wedding." Somebody else added: "You were queen of the Ceilidh Scottish dance floor!" Another Scottish follower penned: "Welcome to Scotland! Not been to a wedding abroad but I have been on the Red Bus.. enjoy!", alongside a smiling face emoji. Serena, who is known to be good friends with Meghan Markle, tied the knot with Alexis in November 2017 in a luxurious wedding ceremony at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans. Their fairytale union was nothing short of magical with a prominent Beauty and the Beast theme, drawing inspiration from the beloved Disney film. High profile celebs such as Kim Kardashian, Beyonce and Eva Longoria all attended the lavish event. And it seems Serena's love for her hubby is just as strong as ever as she referred to him as a "stud" in his kilt. Her Instagram followers were quick to agree with her remark as one commented: "Lol. Alex is wearing that kilt. Looks amazing y'all!!!"
