CALMAC has announced a number of changes to its network ahead of disruption in the coming months.
The ferry operator said some services will be combined to cope with passenger demand.
It said the disruption was due to ongoing repairs to MV Caledonian Isles, one of the largest ships in its fleet, as well as the annual maintenance of several other vessels.
Ferries will be redeployed across the network from Friday, October 18 until at least Friday, November 15 to meet demand.
The main change will see services operating to South Uist and Barra combined.
The announcement comes a day after the Scottish Government confirmed fares across the network would increase by 10% from next year.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop (below) said a fare freeze which had been in place this year – at a cost of about £10 million – would be “too challenging to continue” given the financial outlook facing the Government.
A CalMac spokesperson said: “We know amending timetables and combining services is disruptive, but we’ve analysed carrying data and bookings for this upcoming period and these indicate a shared service for Barra and South Uist will meet capacity requirements.
“Our priority is to provide services which meet the minimum requirements for every island during this challenging period.”
CalMac said MV Caledonian Isles will move to a drydock on October 23 for maintenance and repairs to be carried out before an estimated return on Wednesday, November 20.
The vessel will also be out of service just after the New Year for less than four weeks.
A CalMac spokesperson added: “We want to make the best use of the time we have with the vessel off-service and it is the prudent thing to do to carry out as much of this work as possible now.
“Whilst this does not alleviate service challenges in the short term, we hope it will benefit us in the new year.”
The full list of service changes are:
Arran (Ardrossan – Brodick and Troon – Brodick)
MV Hebridean Isles will depart for Stornoway to cover freight runs during MV Loch Seaforth’s overhaul. It will depart on Saturday, October 19.
MV Lord of the Isles will be redeployed to cover Ardrossan-Brodick services from Saturday. October 19 until Tuesday, October 22.
CalMac said MV Isle of Arran is on schedule to complete its annual overhaul next week and will resume the service on Wednesday, October 23.
MV Alfred will continue to operate Troon-Brodick with the two-vessel service remaining in place up to and including Friday, November 15.
With MV Hebridean Isles covering services until Friday, October 18, the vessel will not operate the Stornoway freight service until the evening of Monday, October 21.
CalMac said: “We recognise that Arran has faced disruption recently and there would be high levels of displaced traffic were we to cancel any services whilst MV Lord of the Isles is repositioned.”
Islay (Kennacraig – Port Ellen / Port Askaig)
There are no changes to the published timetable for Islay services. MV Finlaggan will operate a single vessel timetable from Friday, October 18. MV Lord of the Isles will operate an additional sailing from Port Ellen to Kennacraig at 7am on the same day.
CalMac said the vessel will then reposition to Arran to cover the Ardrossan-Brodick run until MV Isle of Arran returns from its annual overhaul. MV Hebridean Isles will cover freight services on Ullapool-Stornoway.
Mull (Oban – Craignure)
There will be no changes to the published timetables for Mull with a single vessel MV Loch Frisa service until Wednesday, October 23.
However, MV Lord of the Isles will cover services from Wednesday, October 23 until Tuesday, November 5 instead of MV Isle of Arran.
CalMac said: “This is to allow MV Isle of Arran to cover Ardrossan-Brodick services in the absence of MV Caledonian Isles. MV Lord of the Isles departs for annual overhaul after services on Tuesday, November 5 and the route will return to single vessel MV Loch Frisa until Friday, November 15.”
MV Isle of Mull will operate a combined service to South Uist and Barra from Friday, October 18 until Friday, November 15.
Barra (Oban – Castlebay)
MV Isle of Mull will release MV Isle of Lewis to cover MV Loch Seaforth’s annual overhaul from Saturday, October 19.
Barra services will operate as a shared timetable with Lochboisdale up until Friday, November 15.
South Uist (Oban – Lochboisdale)
MV Isle of Mull releases MV Isle of Lewis to cover MV Loch Seaforth’s annual overhaul from Saturday, October 19. South Uist services will operate as a shared timetable with Castlebay up until Friday, November 15.
Harris & Lewis (Ullapool-Stornoway)
MV Loch Seaforth will operate an additional roundtrip on the morning of Sunday, October 20 before departing for its annual overhaul. MV Isle of Lewis will pick up an early freight service at 2pm from Stornoway on Sunday, October 20.
MV Hebridean Isles will cover the freight service. However, as a result of the vessel operating on the Ardrossan – Brodick service until the end of Friday, October 18, it will not operate the freight service on Sunday evening.
Services will instead begin on Monday, October 21 at 5pm from Stornoway.
MV Loch Seaforth will resume passenger and freight services on Wednesday, November 13 when it returns from its annual overhaul.
