CalMac suspends sailings for up to a day at a time on several routes for extra ferry maintenance
Rolling programme expected to cover all routes on operator’s west coast network
CalMac is suspending sailings on several routes for up to a day at a time while ferries undergo extra maintenance to improve their reliability.
The new rolling programme, which was agreed as part of the state-owned operator’s new ten-year contract with Transport Scotland, has started on seven of its routes.
Ferries on a further seven routes will follow, with the scheme expected to extend to CalMac’s entire west coast fleet.
It involves passengers facing no sailings on some routes for one day a month, or six-hour suspensions once a week, or “slightly” reduced services where relief vessels are brought in.
CalMac said it had consulted affected communities over when their services would be suspended, but some expressed upset at how the process had been handled.
The company has suffered significant disruption from a series of major vessels undergoing repairs or extended work following scheduled overhauls.
In the first stage of the programme, which started last month, there is no service on the secondary route between Lochranza in Arran and Claonaig in Kintyre on the first Thursday of every month until October 1, with the next stoppage next Thursday.
Sailings are also suspended across Loch Fyne between Portavadie and Tarbert on Mondays or Wednesdays once a month until October 14, with the next suspension on Monday May 25.
The CalMac website also showed no sailings between Mallaig and Armadale in Skye on one day in both September and October.
There are also weekly six-hour service suspensions between Ardmhor in Barra and Eriskay, where sailings do not start on Sundays until 12.20pm.
Afternoon sailings are also be reduced on the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route on Wednesdays.
Elsewhere, CalMac said there would be a slight reductions in frequency and capacity one day a month when relief vessels cover the Mallaig to Small Isles (Eigg, Canna, Muck and Rum) and Largs to Cumbrae routes.
The Arran Ferry Committee, which represents passengers, said the service suspensions were over the top.
Secretary Bill Calderwood said: “We consider these days excessive, particularly when you consider the time each vessel is out of service daily.
“CalMac management cannot quantify the increased resilience they expect from this programme and generally the view is that it is being introduced for the convenience of the operator with no regards for the significant detrimental impact.
“This is planned to roll out across all routes and must be reviewed to quantify the actual benefit to the service resilience and the cost to customer service before further damage is done.”
CalMac head of fleet Ross Parker said: “Technical issues across the fleet can be disruptive and sometimes require vessels to be withdrawn from service at short notice.
“To address this, we have begun building dedicated time into route timetables to allow for routine, proactive maintenance, in line with practices used by many other ferry operators.
“Incorporating this time into regular timetables gives our technical teams and vessel crews the opportunity to carry out essential tasks that cannot be completed while vessels are in service.
“We continue to work closely with local communities to agree how this approach can best be integrated into their timetables.
“By carrying out maintenance on a regular, preventative basis, we aim to strengthen the reliability and resilience of the fleet, delivering a more dependable service for the communities we serve.”
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