CalMac crisis: Repaired Lord of the Isles ferry returns to carry Mull Music Festival fans and gas to Coll

The reappearance of Lord of the Isles after being out of action for two weeks with engine problems follows widespread disruption across CalMac’s west coast network caused by multiple ferries breaking down or undergoing scheduled overhauls.

It will be deployed on the main Mull route on Wednesday ahead of the start of the island’s four-day music festival on Thursday before delivering urgent gas supplies to Coll on Friday.

The festival is seen as one of the most important weekends of the year for Mull, with more than 2,000 people expected to travel to the island for events.

Capacity on Oban-Craignure sailings has been significantly reduced because the route’s main ferry Isle of Mull has been temporarily moved elsewhere with the smaller Coruisk and Loch Frisa providing the service.

Lord of the Isles, which can carry some 500 passengers, left dock in Greenock on Tuesday following repairs to its starboard [right] main engine.

Get our brilliant weekly transport newsletter

A Calmac spokesperson said of the Coll sailing: “We've been unable to get this to the island recently due to disruption and it is urgent that we do so.”

The spokesperson added: “The vessel will also operate Oban-Craignure and remain there until Sunday morning to support suppliers and customers in getting to and from the Mull Music Festival.

“As Isle of Mull was expected on Oban-Craignure by now, we'd be disrupting these suppliers and customers with a Coruisk and Loch Frisa service, which is a significant reduction in planned capacity.

“Later on Sunday, Lord of the Isles will head to Islay to cover Finlaggan’s overhaul.”

However, Neil Morrison, owner of Macgochans in Tobermory, one of the main festival venues, criticised the way the disruption had been handled.

He said: “We understand there are ongoing challenges with vessel availability, but announcing reduced capacity, allowing cancellations to follow, and then suggesting a larger vessel will be introduced at the last minute, without clear and consistent communication, is deeply damaging.

“We have seen customers having their bookings cancelled, including weekend staff and bands due to travel to perform. That sends entirely the wrong message and risks putting people off travelling to the island altogether.

“Island economies depend on reliability and confidence. When that is undermined, the consequences are felt far beyond a single weekend.”

The Mull and Iona Ferry Committee, which represents passengers, said the news would be greeted with “great relief” but uncertainty remained about services next week.

Chair Joe Reade said: “We are pleased that Lord of the Isles is coming to Mull for a few days.

“The annual music festival is on in Tobermory, with thousands expected to fill live music venues, so there will be a great deal of relief that we are getting some additional capacity.

“However, we don’t know what will happen after Saturday.

“We had been relying on Hebrides returning to service in order for Isle of Mull to come home.

“There is no word yet as to how long this latest breakdown will take to fix.

“Meantime, Finlaggan is due to leave for overhaul, so Lord of the Isles will be needed to cover that gap.

“CalMac still has three major vessels out of action due to breakdowns - Hebrides, Isle of Lewis and Isle of Arran.

“This crisis will not be over until they are back at sea.”

Repairs to Hebrides are expected to take at least until Sunday, while Isle of Arran is not due back until mid-May followed by Isle of Lewis at the end of that month.

However, Mr Reade added: “It should be remembered that whilst there are significant issues, the majority of the network is operating.

“Mull’s second ferry service to the mainland at Lochaline is still working well, and with plenty of capacity.

“So whilst some journeys may need to be re-routed, it possible to get to and from Mull easily by car.”