CalMac meets weather challenge with emergency timetable

In the face of severe weather warnings ferry operator CalMac is radically altering some sailings in an effort to get people home for Christmas.

The company has put together an action plan using weather windows that should enable people travelling to the southern outer Hebrides, Tiree and Coll to get there in time for the Yuletide celebrations and get vital supplies out to shops.

The revised timetable means the MV Lord of the Isles will depart from Lochboisdale at 0400 on Christmas Eve arriving at Oban 1000 leaving 1030, arriving Tiree at 1400 and Coll at 1505 before repositioning to Lochboisdale to pick up the scheduled Boxing Day service.

For passengers heading out to the outer isles the MV Clansman will leave Oban at 0500 on Christmas Eve calling at Lochboisdale 0950, Castlebay on Barra at 1130 before heading down to Tiree arriving at 1425 and then on to Coll before docking Oban again at 1820.

CalMac's director of operations Drew Collier said:

"We have pulled out all the stops to ensure people travelling to these destinations can get home to their friends and family in time for the celebrations. Storm Eva brings significant weather challenges for us over the next few days and makes operating any sort of service difficult, but we are committed to getting our customers where they want to go and will look at all options to achieve this.

"However, weather does change and I would urge everyone planning to travel on these revised services, and to all our destinations, to continue to monitor our website and social media platforms for the very latest information before they set off."

CalMac is also laying on an extra Arran service at 2030 on Christmas Eve.