Exclusive:Repairs to new CalMac ferry Isle of Islay will delay its passenger debut

The operator said on Wednesday that “work is ongoing to resolve a small number of outstanding issues on the vessel” ahead of its planned debut between Kennacraig in Kintyre and Port Askaig in Islay on Friday.

CalMac said one of the route’s existing ferries, Finlaggan, would operate alone between Friday and Sunday, prompting concern from islanders that it would not be able to cope with passenger demand.

It said the ferry was at the Inchgreen yard in Greenock for “minor modifications relating to gangway access”.

However, the operator said it was also trying to resolve a “minor issue” with the vessel’s power management system, with a specialist engineer flown in from the Turkish shipyard where it was built.

CalMac said Isle of Islay was due to depart for sea trials on Thursday evening before heading for Port Askaig.

It expects to confirm when the ferry will enter service following the results of the trials, which could be this weekend.

The operator said the ferry’s scheduled sailings had been cancelled between Friday and Sunday “to give customers who could be disrupted but must travel the opportunity to amend their plans as early as possible”.

Jim Porteous, secretary of Islay Community Council and Ferry Committee, said: “This is a very unwelcome situation at this late stage and many bookings will be impacted if she is not in service for Friday.

“We have been told no other ships are available as back up.

“CalMac has temporarily closed their booking system for Islay and no new bookings are currently being accepted up to April 17.

“Finlaggan on its own could not possibly meet all of the demand for the summer timetable starting this weekend.”

Isle of Islay has been undergoing berthing trials at various west coast ports since arriving from its Turkish shipyard last month after a storm-battered voyage through the Mediterranean and Bay of Biscay that took twice as long as planned.

CalMac’s website stated: “Isle of Islay is currently undergoing final entry to service inspections and trials.

“As a result, Finlaggan will operate a single vessel timetable from Friday to Sunday.”

A CalMac spokesperson said on Wednesday: “Work is ongoing to resolve a small number of outstanding issues on the vessel. We plan to do sea trials later today and into tomorrow to allow us to rectify these.

“Following trials, we will be able to confirm the vessel is ready to enter service.”

Isle of Islay is the first of a class of four ferries being built at the Cemre yard in Yalova, with the second also earmarked for the Islay route and due to be delivered this summer.

The other two are due to operate on the Skye triangle routes to Harris and North Uist, with the last one five months ahead of its current schedule.

However, Isle of Islay was completed in January more than a year late due to supply chain delays and a major earthquake in Turkey.