CalMac has announced that all major vessel routes will return to planned service levels by the end of this week, following a difficult period that saw a third of its ferry fleet out of action. The MV Hebrides returned to service on the Little Minch on Wednesday afternoon after repairs to address a leak on her bow visor seal, which came at the end of her planned annual overhaul.
The return of the MV Hebrides has enabled CalMac to restore planned service levels to five islands, including Coll, Colonsay, Mull, South Uist and Tiree. This restoration brings increased capacity and resilience to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay, greater capacity on Mull, and the restoration of a direct service to South Uist. All other routes served by major vessels are already operating normally.
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Two major vessels remain to complete their planned overhauls this month: the MV Isle of Lewis and MV Finlaggan. The MV Isle of Lewis had her drydock extended by three months for additional steelwork and is due to undertake sea trials later this week. CalMac will confirm whether she can return to service earlier than originally planned – which was slated for the end of May – following those trials.
CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison said: “The return of MV Hebrides gets us back to a welcome stable service across the routes served by major vessels and allows us to restore planned service levels to five islands.
“This includes an increase in capacity and resilience to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay, greater capacity on Mull and the restoration of a direct service to South Uist.”
