Exclusive:Islay islanders reject brand new CalMac ferry Loch Indaal in favour of smaller, 15-year-old vessel Finlaggan
New ship would need more maintenance and have greater fuel tanker restrictions
Islanders about to get a brand new CalMac ferry want to keep their smaller, old one instead because it can provide a fuller service, The Scotsman has learned.
Loch Indaal, which can carry 100 cars, is due to be completed in Turkey next month and enter service to Islay by the end of the year after crew training.
However, residents have asked CalMac to retain the 15-year-old, 85-car ferry Finlaggan this winter because it won’t have to go out of service for weekly maintenance and can accommodate more passengers when carrying fuel tankers.
Loch Indaal’s sister vessel Isle of Islay, which has operated the route with Finlaggan since March, was branded a “lame duck” after an unexpectedly scale of teething troubles that forced it out of service for two-week repairs in July.
Isle of Islay is out of action for six hours a month for routine maintenance as a new vessel, as would Loch Indaal.
A spokesperson for Islay Ferry Committee said: “Loch Indaal would result in an inferior timetable.
“This is because, unlike Loch Indaal, Finlaggan does not require a weekly half-day maintenance stoppage until at least Summer 2027 and does not have restricted passenger capacity when carrying dangerous goods such as petrol.
“The reduced frequency which would result from the entry of Loch Indaal is inconvenient for many.
“The winter timetable is based on Finlaggan plus Isle of Islay until March, and bookings are being accepted on this basis.
“It would be unhelpful to introduce Loch Indaal mid-way through and consequently have to re-arrange many bookings already confirmed.
“New vessels tend to bring snagging issues and Isle of Islay has had to stop service on occasions due to bow ramp and clam door problems.
“For many weeks, neither of her mezzanine decks have been operable. This loses up to 22 vehicle spaces on every trip.”
Argyll and Bute SNP MSP Jenni Minto said: “The committee make very strong arguments for Finlaggan remaining on the Islay route for the winter timetable.
“The island requires the flexibility of Finlaggan and Isle of Islay working together, which will ensure all of its needs are met, and provides a reliable and resilient service.”
CalMac said it was assessing the impact of the request since Finlaggan is due to become a spare, or “resilience” vessel when Loch Indaal arrives.
However, it said Loch Indaal operating the route with Isle of Islay would increase overall capacity compared to Finlaggan and Isle of Islay.
Its spokesperson said: “Isle of Islay has seen 0.8 per cent of sailings cancelled for technical reasons since May 1.
“The issues regarding the mezzanine deck have been addressed in the build for Loch Indaal.
“New vessels joining the fleet will not get the exemptions that vessels in the fleet already have, limiting passenger numbers on sailings where certain types of dangerous goods are carried. This applies to Isle of Islay and Loch Indaal.
“This is not an issue with the design of these vessels and entirely to do with the regulations.”
CalMac said these included transporting butane, petrol, propane, petroleum gas, refrigerated nitrogen and acetylene, but not whisky, which is a major part of the freight carried on the route.
It plans one dangerous goods sailing a week to Islay and one a month from the island, when foot passengers would be restricted to 31 compared to the normal 450.
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