13 November 2024

CalMac publishes revised winter deployment plan

CalMac has published a revised winter deployment plan in light of a delay to MV Caledonian Isles return to service.

With the large vessel expected to be out of service until the end of March, when the winter timetable ends, CalMac has amended plans to meet the needs of island communities across the west coast.

Several key requests from different communities on the west coast have been delivered in the revised plan. This includes:

  • The extension of the Claonaig-Lochranza service on Arran 
  • A weekly return directly to Lochboisdale on South Uist from Oban
  • Confirming all sailings to Colonsay on a Monday in December and January will operate, with those at risk in February and March to be reviewed later.

A CalMac spokesperson said: “Whilst this is a challenging period, our revised deployment plan reflects our efforts to take on board the wide range of feedback we received from islanders and businesses and should allow us to maintain lifeline services and meet demand across all routes on the network.

“All islands will maintain a direct service under this plan, and we are committed to supporting local communities throughout this period of disruption.”

NOTES TO EDITORS 

Key information on notable routes:

  • All Colonsay sailings from 16 November through to the end of the year have at least half their deck space still available to book
  • All sailings to Mull, which will operate single vessel for longer in winter, have at least 15% of car deck space available from 16 Nov until 24 Nov. This increases to at least 30% from 25 Nov until the end of the year
  • The average available daily deck space on sailings off Uist from 16-30 November is 45%. Sailings to Uist is 36%

Annual maintenance schedule of major vessels:

 

Vessel in overhaul 

Dates 

MV Loch Seaforth 

Planned return to service 15 November 

MV Lord of the Isles  

7 November to 28 November  

MV Isle of Mull 

15 November to 28 December  

MV Clansman 

6 January to 17 January  

MV Isle of Lewis 

4 February to 28 February 

MV Alfred 

10 February to 17 February 

MV Hebrides 

24 February to 20 March 

MV Finlaggan  

24 April to 12 May  

 

Deployment plan and service impact: 

 

Island (Routes) 

Vessel 

Service Impact 

 

Arran (Ardrossan-Brodick) 
  • MV Isle of Arran 

 
  • Published TT from 23 Oct until 27 March, reduced capacity 

Arran (Troon-Brodick) 
  • MV Alfred 
  • Extend current TT until 9 Feb 
  • No service 10-17 Feb due to overhaul 
  • Current timetable 18 Feb to 5 Mar 

Islay (Kennacraig – Port Ellen / Port Askaig) 
  • MV Finlaggan  

 
  • Published TT, single vessel until 27 March 

Mull (Oban-Craignure) 
  • MV Loch Frisa single vessel (SV) from 6 Nov until 30 Nov 

 

 
  • As previously published and MV Clansman operates additional AM roundtrip on Wed & Fri throughout winter 
  • MV Loch Frisa SV from 1 Dec until 7 March 
  • Reduced capacity, reviewing options for additional AM Wed and Fri 
  • 31 Dec – 4 Jan MV Isle of Mull operates two vessel service with MV Loch Frisa 
  • MV Isle of Mull SV from 8 March 
  • As per timetable 

Barra (Oban -Castlebay) 
  • MV Isle of Lewis from 16 Nov until 1 Feb 
  • Normal published TT 

 
  • MV Isle of Mull operating a combined CAS/LBO-Oban from 2 Feb until 3 Mar 
  • As published 
  • MV Isle of Lewis from 4 Mar 
  • As published 

Coll, Tiree & Colonsay (Oban-Coll / Tiree / Colonsay) 
  • MV Clansman until 4 Jan 
  • As published 
  • Minor amendment on Thu 21 Nov and Thu 28 Nov to allow MV Clansman to operate a South Uist return 
  • MV Lord of the Isles 5 Jan to 22 Mar 
  • As published 
  • Risk of Colonsay Monday service 
  • Service as published but at risk of cancellation on 10,17,24 Feb and 3 Mar – to be reviewed in January 

South Uist (Lochboisdale-Oban/Mallaig) 
  • No vessel available 16 to 30 Nov 

 
  • Service reduced to Lochboisdale with one weekly return on Thursdays 
  • Additional Lochmaddy sailings will operate via Uig 
  • Additional Sound of Barra sailings will operate aligned to the Oban-Castlebay service 
  • MV Lord of the Isles 01 Dec to 4 Jan 
  • As published 

 
  • MV Isle of Mull 4 Jan until 1 Feb 
  • As published 
  • MV Isle of Mull operating a combined CAS/LBO-Oban from 2 Feb until 3 Mar 
  • As published 
  • MV Isle of Mull 4 Mar until 7 Mar 
  • Timetable as published but with change of vessel 
  • No vessel available 8 to 22 Mar 
  • Service liable to disruption or cancellation 
  • To be reviewed and confirmed in January 
  • MV Lord of the Isles from 23 March 
  • As published 

Harris & North Uist (Uig/Tarbert/  Lochmaddy) 
  • MV Hebrides 16 to 30 Nov 
  • Services amended to offer additional service to Lochmaddy with reduction of Tarbert sailings 
  • MV Hebrides 1 Dec to 22 Feb 
  • As published 
  • MV Clansman from 23 Feb until 22 Mar 
  • As published 
  • MV Clansman from 8 to 22 Mar 
  • Services amended to offer additional service to Lochmaddy with reduction of Tarbert sailings 
  • MV Hebrides from 24 Mar 
  • As published 

Lewis (Ullapool-Stornoway) 
  • MV Loch Seaforth 
  • MV Loch Seaforth from 14 Nov as published TT