Latest news with #Troon-Brodick
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Daily Record
Man rescued after falling overboard from CalMac ferry in Ayrshire
The man's current condition is unknown. A passenger has been rescued after a man fell overboard from a CalMac ferry earlier today. The incident took place on the operator's Troon to Brodick route in the Firth of Clyde in Ayrshire at 1.50pm on Saturday, August 16. The MV Alfred vessel launched its rescue craft and the man was located in the water. He was brought back to shore in Troon before being handed over to paramedics. His current condition is unknown. MV Alfred's sailings will be delayed for the remainder of the day following the incident. A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said: "A man reported to have gone overboard from a passenger vessel in the Firth of Clyde at about 1.50pm on 16 August was picked up from the water by the vessel's rescue craft and taken to Troon. "HM Coastguard sent Coastguard Rescue Teams from Ardrossan and Ayr, as well as the inshore lifeboat from Troon. The man was passed into the care of the Scottish Ambulance Service. Police Scotland also attended." A spokesperson for CalMac said: "We can confirm a passenger went overboard on the 13.35 Troon-Brodick sailing operated by MV Alfred. "The passenger was quickly recovered from sea by crew and the vessel returned to Troon port where coastguard and emergency services are in attendance. Services operated by MV Alfred will be delayed for the rest of the day."
The National
07-05-2025
- Business
- The National
MV Caledonian Isles return faces further delay
With both the MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred unable to berth at the troubled Ardrossan Harbour, ferry users face a further period of longer sailings to Arran and back from Troon Harbour. The service between Ardrossan and Brodick has been absent since early this year - and may not return until the week beginning Monday, June 9. MV Caledonian Isles has been out of action since January 2024 when it went in for its annual overhaul. Repeated delays followed until it was announced that the vessel would return in November last year. But this was set back by the discovery of "steel deformation" and the need to replace both stern tube bearings. This pushed MV Caledonian Isles' return back until the end of March this year, only for it to be delayed again. A return in late April was then expected before it was announced that passengers would have to wait until the end of May at the earliest. Now, CalMac has advised that there is a "potential" further delay coming only weeks out from the anticipated return. The warning comes after the propulsion shafts, which were sent to Denmark for machining, arrived back at the vessel approximately 10 days later than scheduled. This was due to the need for additional works identified during the process. Despite the possible delay, CalMac says it is prepared for a return to service from any point from June 1 onwards. It also reaffirmed its commitment to MV Caledonian Isles operating out of Ardrossan when she returns. Duncan Mackison, the company's CEO, said: 'Progress has been checked every step of the way throughout what has been a complex repair programme. "This delay in completing the shafts has not affected confidence levels that MV Caledonian Isles will be serving Arran again in just a few weeks' time. 'A timeline which saw the vessel back in service by the end of May built in contingency, but that has largely been used up by the delay in getting the shafts back on board. "We anticipated the contingency time being required during alignment and sea trials, the critical phase of works we expect to enter next week when the vessel floats up. 'If we complete alignment and sea trials and there's no issues whatsoever, the original plan for resuming service by June 1 is viable and we're also planning for that eventuality. "But given the length of time the vessel has been in dock, it is prudent to build that contingency back in to give certainty to the community on Arran. 'Further details on her return to service will be confirmed in due course.' MV Alfred, which is on charter from Pentland Ferries, will continue to operate Troon-Brodick in early June should MV Caledonian Isles be delayed.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Arran ferry to return to Ardrossan two months later than planned
The MV Caledonian Isles is expected to return to service sailing between Ardrossan and Brodick in June. Passengers sailing between Arran and the mainland will be able to travel via Ardrossan for the first time in almost six months in June. CalMac have announced that the MV Caledonian Isles is expected to return to service from week beginning Monday, June 9 - around two months later than initially hoped. Delays with repairs to the propulsion shafts - which were sent to Denmark for machining - and further, unexpected repairs being undertaken have delayed the return of the MV Caledonian Isles. Alignment and sea trials are expected to begin next week ahead of the MV Caledonian Isles returning to service in June. The MV Glen Sannox and the MV Alfred will continue to operate services to Arran exclusively from Troon until at least June. In an update to customers, CalMac said: "To provide certainty to our customers, we need to update the expected return to service date for MV Caledonian Isles, which ordinarily provides services to Arran. We now expect the vessel to return to service w/c Monday, June 9 instead of end of May. As previously communicated, we are committed to her operating Ardrossan-Brodick and we will be prepared for a return to service from any point from June 1 onwards. "We have needed to review this date following the delay in the return of her propulsion shafts which were sent to Denmark for machining, during which time additional works were identified. She will begin to float up next week – and with this the next critical phase of work will begin with alignment and sea trials. "Until MV Caledonian Isles returns to service, MV Glen Sannox and MV Alfred will continue to operate on Troon-Brodick service, to the current timetable. "Once we have confirmation of MV Caledonian Isles' readiness to return, we will publish details of her initial sailings via the service status page for the route. She is likely to be phased in to service over a short period of time rather than immediately beginning 5 return sailings per day. "Bookings from/to Ardrossan - Brodick will remain available in the booking system from Sunday 1 June. We'll review this on w/c 19 May as work progresses. We want to ensure we don't amend or move bookings unless it is necessary. If your booking is affected, we will be in touch with you." Ardrossan Harbour is too small to cope with the MV Glen Sannox - the second largest and the most complex vessel ever built for CalMac - and its sister ship the MV Glen Rosa. Plans to upgrade the harbour were previously approved by the Scottish Government in 2018 but discussions between stakeholders stalled the work has yet to start. In February, the Scottish Government announced they would explore nationalising Ardrossan Harbour so that upgrades could be done to allow the Arran ferry to return.
