Latest news with #MVIsleofMull
The National
15-07-2025
- Business
- The National
CalMac ferry from Arran to Ardrossan to stop after brief resumption
The MV Isle of Arran took over the route between the mainland and Brodick last week as a result of the continued issues facing the MV Caledonian Isles – which has been out of service since last January. [[Ardrossan]] in North Ayrshire has long been the main port for sailings to Arran, but the newest addition to the [[CalMac]] fleet – the long awaited Glen Sannox – is too big to berth at the privately-owned dock, forcing sailings to move down the coast to Troon, South [[Ayr]]shire. READ MORE: CalMac looking to recover repair costs for MV Caledonian Isles As a result of the lay-off of the Caledonian Isles, the MV Alfred – a Pentland Ferries catamaran – was chartered as a second vessel on the Troon to Brodick route. From July 24, the Isle of Arran will return to serve Islay, leaving Ardrossan without a ferry to serve the island again for an indefinite period. The Alfred will run alongside the Glen Sannox as the operator continues to wait for its sister ship the Glen Rosa – which is also being built at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow. More disruption will be likely in early September, as the terminal at Troon closes for maintenance for a week. Concerns have been raised among the communities on Arran and in Ardrossan about the potential permanent loss of the town as the main gateway to Arran, given both the new vessels are too big to dock there. The port is owned privately by Peel Ports, but the Scottish Government has said it is exploring the potential purchase of the asset to make necessary improvements that would allow the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa to continue serving the island from [[Ardrossan]]. (Image: Andrew Milligan) CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison (above) said: 'This plan has been carefully worked out so that services to island communities can be optimised with the vessels available to us. 'This phase of deployment will see many routes revert to their original summer plans, with South Uist's regular vessel returning, MV Isle of Mull adding capacity to Mull, and the return of a two-vessel service on Mallaig-Armadale. 'We do appreciate there remains a level of disruption, particularly with the continued absence of MV Caledonian Isles, and we are already looking at how we minimise the impact of that disruption for the remainder of the summer timetable.' With the [[Isle of Arran]] returning to Islay, the MV Lord of the Isles will return to the Western Isles, allowing the MV Isle of Mull to operate between Oban, Argyll, and Mull, while the MV Loch Fyne will be able to move back to cover the route between Skye and the mainland.
STV News
15-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
Ardrossan to Arran ferry sailings to cease again later this month
Ferry sailings between Ardrossan and Arran will cease again later this month, operator CalMac has said. The MV Isle of Arran took over the route between the mainland and Brodick last week as a result of the continued issues facing the MV Caledonian Isles – which has been out of service since last January. Ardrossan in North Ayrshire has long been the main port for sailings to Arran, but the newest addition to the CalMac fleet – the long-awaited Glen Sannox – is too big to berth at the privately-owned dock, forcing sailings to move down the coast to Troon, South Ayrshire. As a result of the lay-off of the Caledonian Isles, the MV Alfred – a Pentland Ferries catamaran – was chartered as a second vessel on the Troon to Brodick route. From July 24, the Isle of Arran will return to serve Islay, leaving Ardrossan without a ferry to serve the island again for an indefinite period. The Alfred will run alongside the Glen Sannox as the operator continues to wait for its sister ship the Glen Rosa – which is also being built at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow. More disruption will be likely in early September, as the terminal at Troon closes for maintenance for a week. Concerns have been raised among the communities on Arran and in Ardrossan about the potential permanent loss of the town as the main gateway to Arran, given that both the new vessels are too big to dock there. The port is owned privately by Peel Ports, but the Scottish Government has said it is exploring the potential purchase of the asset to make necessary improvements that would allow the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa to continue serving the island from Ardrossan. CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said: 'This plan has been carefully worked out so that services to island communities can be optimised with the vessels available to us. 'This phase of deployment will see many routes revert to their original summer plans, with South Uist's regular vessel returning, MV Isle of Mull adding capacity to Mull, and the return of a two-vessel service on Mallaig-Armadale. 'We do appreciate there remains a level of disruption, particularly with the continued absence of MV Caledonian Isles, and we are already looking at how we minimise the impact of that disruption for the remainder of the summer timetable.' With the Isle of Arran returning to Islay, the MV Lord of the Isles will return to the Western Isles, allowing the MV Isle of Mull to operate between Oban, Argyll, and Mull, while the MV Loch Fyne will be able to move back to cover the route between Skye and the mainland. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
12-07-2025
- Scotsman
Ferries Scotland: Island committee to stage protest against state of Oban to Mull ferry service
The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee criticised a Scottish Government decision as 'bizarre' and 'unfair'. Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport 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 protest will be held this weekend on the Isle of Mull over the state of the lifeline ferry service, with Scottish ministers accused of not 'listening'. The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee announced it is planning a mass demonstration protesting the state of the ferry service to Mull and Iona. The demonstration will take place on Sunday at Craignure on the Isle of Mull. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The protest is the initiative of local businesswoman Michelle Devlin. She said the 'final straw' before staging the protest was the Scottish Government's decision not to include Mull and Iona in its £4.4 million Island Business Resilience Fund. Ms Devlin, who operates the Pier Café on Tobermory's harbour front, said: 'News that Mull is not getting any of the compensation for all of this was the final straw. The Government just don't seem to be listening, so what options do we have but to get on the street with placards? 'I can't believe it has come to this, that we have to protest just to try and get a basic, reliable ferry service.' The committee has stressed the protest is not aimed at CalMac staff on the ground, but rather the Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and CMAL. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The MV Isle of Mull is the main vessel used for the journey. | Getty Images The main vessel used for the Mull to Iona journey, the MV Isle of Mull, has been absent since March after decay was found in the emergency evacuation slides in an annual inspection. The ship had its passenger capacity reduced to just 45, with the vessel redeployed to the quieter Oban to Lochboisdale service. Repairs were completed last month. The committee said businesses were desperately awaiting the ferry's return just in time for the peak tourist season. The committee said, due to the continued absence of the Caledonian Isles, CalMac decided again to redeploy the Isle of Mull to Lochboisdale, which has meant they will be faced with several more weeks of reduced capacity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Committee 'angered' at Scottish Government decision The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee said it had been angered by the 'bizarre' and 'unfair' decision from the Scottish Government. In a statement, the committee said: 'At the same time, the Scottish Government announced the most bizarre and unfair decision – that their newly announced scheme to compensate businesses for ferry disruption would exclude Mull and Iona, together with a host of other islands.' The Government has made the £4.4m Island Business Resilience Fund available to islands that have had 15 per cent or more of their services cancelled in the past three years. This has meant Mull and Iona do not fit the Government's criteria. A statement on the Government's website said: 'The islands of South Uist, Colonsay, North Uist, Eriskay, Benbecula, Berneray, Grimsay and Arran were chosen as eligible for the Islands Business Resilience Fund as they each had more than 15 per cent ferry disruption over the last three seasons.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The committee said it was 'disappointed' by the decision and added that inappropriate vessels, lowered capacities, reduced timetables, altered routes, slow services and the inability to get on sailings were the bigger issues. Tobermory on the Isle of Mull where demonstration organiser Michelle Devlin works. | AFP via Getty Images Business owners say ferry problems 'will finish' Mull Pennygown Holiday Park owner James MacGillivray said: 'The ferry problems will finish Mull. We've got people cancelling every other day.
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Islanders facing financial ruin over ferry cancellations
In recent years, the route has been plagued by disruption, with Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop holding 'crisis' talks with island business groups earlier this year. The Lord of the Isles – referred to as LOTI by locals - is a 36-year-old vessel which had only returned to the South Uist route in mid-May after it was taken to service other struggling routes. Islanders were given the MV Isle of Mull, the second oldest ship in the fleet, as a replacement – but it was restricted to 45 passengers per trip. In 2023, islanders protested after a month-long cancellation. Karen MacAulay, owner of the Lochboisdale Hotel, told The Herald repeated disruption is leading to a 'debilitating' pressure on locals. Since the ferry was cancelled earlier this week, she has lost at least 10 bookings and will lose more if the ferry is not returned by Friday. 'Trying to run a business here is difficult anyway, so living on the edge is natural,' she told The Herald. 'We've gone from 14 rooms booked out of a total of 15 and it went down to four. We're losing thousands upon thousands of pounds every year. 'It seems that if any ferry breaks down in the fleet, they take the LOTI. The ferry has become so unreliable that people won't book onto it. Read more: 'We haven't got a replacement so for this full week, we're having to phone people. We don't charge for cancellations when it comes to the ferries – if we did, I'd be a millionaire. So we have lost a whole week's worth of work. 'It's mentally debilitating. Year upon year it is just getting worse. Now I am just at the stage where I want to give up. 'We are fighting a losing battle. The crisis is now. We can't afford to pay bills or staff. It's absolutely horrendous. It's taken a mental toll on not just me but everybody in the community. 'We need help but in Lochboisdale they just forget about us.' The Lord of the Isles vessel is one of four ships beyond running beyond the expected operational life, alongside the Isle of Arran, Mull and the Caledonian Isles, while two other vessels – Isle of Lewis and Clansman – are approaching the end of their expected time. Last month, CalMac was awarded a £3.9 billion contract to run the west coast services for the next 10 years. However, Torcuil Crichton, the Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, condemned the decision, warning the firm's 'resilience' was gone. Read more: Speaking to The Herald, he said: 'People are tearing their hair out in frustration. It's affecting confidence on the islands, and its affecting commercial and tourism confidence in the islands. 'On one end hotels are facing large scale losses and on the other end B&Bs face cancellations that can add up to a months mortgage payment, or more. 'It's feeding into people's decision whether to live or leave the island. It's really serious. 'Business owners are eating into their own funds – they're going into debt – in the hope that things will get better. It is an awful situation to be in.' Service information provided to travellers by CalMac said: 'Due to mechanical damage on MV Lord of the Isles that has resulted in water ingress into a void tank, this service has been cancelled.' The vessel is being repaired in Kennacraig, near the Clyde – almost 150 miles away from Lochboisdale. Dependin on the outcome of repairs it could back in operation on Thursday or Friday – but islanders said they have been told it could be out of service for another week. There are no direct replacements, however an island-hopping alternative has been provided on the MV Loch Alainn, sailing from Barra and Eriskay to connect with the MV Isle of Lewis on the Castlebrae service. CalMac and Transport Scotland have been asked for comment.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
CalMac: Why do islanders continue to be angry over ferries?
South Uist has been particularly badly hit by a shortage of vessels on lifeline ferry routes and has been served by 37-year-old veteran MV Isle of Mull which is restricted to just 45 passengers since the start of the year ,while its regular ship - MV Lord of the Isles covers elsewhere. For several years South Uist has regularly been the victim of cuts due to ferry breakdowns and delays in annual maintenance which climaxed in losing their service completely for nearly the whole of June, 2023. What is the concern on South Uist? Residents said they feel "forgotten, abandoned, and ignored" due to repeated ferry cancellations over recent years. In June 2023, CalMac rerouted the MV Lord of the Isles, leaving South Uist without direct sailings to the mainland for nearly the entire month. This followed a four-week suspension between April and May and led to a major protest involving an estimated 500 residents. The disruptions have led to business losses and concerns about population decline as some residents consider relocating. The current concern is that MV Lord of the Isles has been lost yet again to cover for problems elsewhere at a time when it was thought CalMac had rethought its strategy. What causes these frequent service disruptions? The primary issue is the ageing ferry fleet, caused by a lack of investment in the ferries which continues to hit services, as the state-owned ferry operator CalMac looks to juggle its resources to cover what are lifeline services as best it can. Four years ago, more than half of Scotland's lifeline ferry network was operating outwith its working life expectancy - being over 25 year old. MV Isle of Cumbrae (Image: Newsquest) The oldest in the CalMac fleet is is the Isle of Cumbrae which is now 23 years past its working life expectancy at 44-year-old. The MV Lord of the Isles, serving South Uist, is itself over 30 years old and has experienced multiple mechanical failures, including corroded steel, radar faults, and engine issues. Such problems necessitate extended repairs, during which no replacement vessels are available due to fleet limitations. How do these disruptions impact the local economy? Local businesses, especially those dependent on tourism and ferry traffic, suffer significant losses during service outages. For instance, a food takeaway near the Lochboisdale ferry terminal on South Uist reported losing hundreds of pounds per sailing, leading to reduced staff hours and cancelled tourist bookings. Read more from Martin Williams: What is being done to address the ferry service issues? The Scottish Government pledged £580 million over five years to improve ferry services, including procuring new vessels. However, delays in constructing new ferries, such as Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa at the state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard, have hindered progress. The Glen Sannox finally commenced service in early 2025, with the Glen Rosa expected by September 2025, although there are worries it may not be available till next year. Additionally, new ferries like the MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal are planned to enhance service reliability. A contract has also been awarded for the construction of seven new electric battery-powered vessels for smaller routes. How are the ferry services paid for? CalMac, under a contract awarded by Transport Scotland, gets subsidies to cover operational costs not met by fare revenues. The current £975m eight-year Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) contract expires in September 2024. While passengers pay fares to use ferry services, they typically cover only a portion of the operating costs. CalMac (Image: PA) The subsidies are in place because some ferry routes are not commercially viable due to low passenger volumes and high operating costs. Subsidies ensure that island communities remain connected to the mainland, supporting local economies and access to essential services. Last year it was announced that ferry fears would increase by 10% from this year to allow the continued support of the ferries network in future years. How are new ferries paid for? The Scottish Government, or the taxpayer provides capital funding for new ferries via Transport Scotland. This funding is often channelled through "voted loans" to a separate state-owned company, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, which owns the ferries, ports, harbours and infrastructure. While funding mechanisms are in place, critics say challenges in procurement and project management have highlighted the need for ongoing oversight and reform.
