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Covid-19 Customer Updates and Travel Advice

Customer Update: Essential services temporary timetable extended until 6 February

Essential services temporary timetable extended until at least 6 February

17 January 2022

The number of Covid-19 cases remain high in Scotland. Currently more than 200 of our colleagues are absent for Covid related reasons and those working in operational roles on the front line of our service have been heavily affected.  

This means our essential services temporary timetable that was introduced on 3 January, will now remain in place until at least 6 February 2022 as we continue to focus on providing certainty to customers and ensuring we maintain a service to the communities we serve.  

The routes affected are: 

  • Largs - Cumbrae 

  • Oban - Coll - Tiree 

  • Oban - Colonsay 

  • Wemyss Bay - Rothesay 

  • Tarbert (Loch Fyne) - Portavadie 

  • Gourock - Dunoon 

  • Mallaig - Lochboisdale has been cancelled until at least 6 February 2022 due to a combination of Covid related reasons and a delay to annual overhaul programme. We recognise this is challenging for our customers and we apologise for the disruption. The Sound of Barra service has been amended to allow connections from Oban-Castlebay sailings. We will keep you updated via our website regarding any change.  

  • Oban - Craignure - Monday 17 January, the Oban - Craignure: 14:00 and Craignure - Oban: 15:15 are cancelled. 

The Gourock - Kilcreggan and Colintraive - Rhubodach routes have now had their normal winter timetable restored.  

The Lochranza - Tarbert service has been increased to two sailings per day until at least 6 February 2022. This is to support capacity while MV Hebridean Isles - a smaller vessel - is substituting on the Ardrossan-Brodick route during the annual overhaul programme.

We have published full details on our timetable pages.  

Our ports in Stornoway, Ullapool, Uig, Tarbert (Harris), Lochmaddy, Lochboisdale, Castlebay, Armadale, Mallaig, Coll, Tiree, Ardrossan and Brodick will continue to operate reduced opening hours focused on sailing times.  

Reservations will be unavailable for a short period of time to allow us to undertake changes in the system. As soon as these changes are made, we will release any available capacity.   

Our customers who have been affected will be contacted by port teams to assist with their individual requirements.  

If your sailing has been affected and you wish to apply for a refund, you can do so via our website. If your booking is disrupted by these changes and you are required to amend or alter your booking to an alternative sailing, the £10 cancellation fee will be waived.  

Food and Drink - Please make sure to check your journey before you travel and please also come prepared for your crossing as all on board food and drink outlets are temporarily closed. This will remain under review.  

When travelling with us, it is important that you continue to follow our safer travel rules. Face coverings are legally required in our ports and offices and in all indoor areas of our vessels. We really appreciate your help in protecting our crew and the communities we serve.   

We will keep you informed as we navigate through this period - you can stay up to date by checking our website FAQs for all the latest information on travelling with us.   

Please note: due to the ever-changing nature of Covid-restrictions, our timetable can change at extremely short notice. We advise keeping a close eye on our website and social channels to keep as up-to-date as possible.

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