Further repairs required to MV Caledonian Isles

CalMac has confirmed the need for further repairs to MV Caledonian Isles have been uncovered whilst the vessel is in drydock.  

Two further areas of work have been identified as the vessel undergoes repairs in Greenock. These are: 

• The need to repair or replace both stern tube bearings.   

• The requirement for additional steelwork replacement works. 

 Work is underway to remove the stern tube bearings for further assessment and if their condition is within limits, arrangements will be made to send them to Norway to be machined. If this is not possible, CalMac will have to wait on new bearings. These have been ordered, though the first is not expected to be available until mid-December. More information should be available later in the week.  

During an inspection, eight frames were found to be deformed in two areas of the vessel and a need for significant steel replacement identified. This work is already underway. CalMac is consulting a naval architect about the root cause of the deformation and is liaising with the drydock operator and other parties on the repair timeline and the cost.   

With MV Caledonian Isles originally scheduled to exit dock in mid-November, the timetable for repairs can only be finalised when availability to dock for the additional works is confirmed. It is anticipated that there will be at least three weeks of works required to align the shafts, gearboxes and engines after the vessel refloats.   

Due to the uncertainty around dock availability and the full repair scope, the ferry operator anticipates MV Caledonian Isles could remain out of service until the end of the winter timetable in late March in a worst-case scenario. An earlier return to service may be possible, depending on several other factors such as dock availability. CalMac will now consult with island communities later this week on a revised vessel deployment plan for winter. MV Caledonian Isles had been expected back in service by approximately 20 November. 

CalMac’s interim CEO 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.” 

CalMac has a winter deployment plan in place through until Friday 15 November. The new plan will take effect from Saturday 16 November, and be published by Wednesday 13 November.