Customer Update - Arran services
Customer Update - Arran services
Updated 16 October 2024
Within our last update to customers regarding both the service to Arran and the additional repairs to MV Caledonian Isles taking place during a busy overhaul period, we indicated we'd share a further update on services and plans with you before 17 October. We're now in a position to do that.
Firstly, we're keen to provide you with a picture on what to expect regarding service plans.
Latest information on Arran services and deployment plans
Since MV Caledonian Isles is still scheduled to undergo repairs until at least mid-November, MV Lord of the Isles will operate the service between Ardrossan and Brodick from Saturday 19 October to Tuesday 22 October. MV Hebridean Isles, which is currently providing cover on the service, will depart for Stornoway to cover the overhaul period for MV Loch Seaforth.
From Wednesday 23 October to Friday 15 November, MV Isle of Arran will operate the service following completion of annual overhaul. We anticipate that MV Caledonian Isles will resume service on this route from Wednesday 20 November.
MV Alfred will continue to operate the service between Troon - Brodick from Monday 21 October - Wednesday 20 November to the current published timetable.
Customer bookings during this period
If you have a booking for travel between Ardrossan - Brodick for the period above, we will contact you should your booking be affected. We'll be working through bookings in date order.
While work is underway to update the system, it may seem that some sailings are not available to book / amend. This is temporary. Please do check back.
Further details on MV Caledonian Isles
Each year, our vessels must go through mandatory annual overhaul. This will include MV Caledonian Isles. To make the best use of time, much of the work which was due to be carried out during her next annual overhaul in early 2025 has been pulled forward and will now be carried out in the next few weeks, while she is in drydock to receive repairs to the port gearbox - the source of the current issue.
Following completion of these works, which will include the port gearbox overhaul, there will be a requirement for the gearboxes and engines to be realigned, once the vessel is afloat. Sea trials will then take place. This is estimated to take several days. We anticipate MV Caledonian Isles being back in service by Wednesday 20 November, although this date is subject to change.
She will still enter overhaul on January 2025 for recertification surveys.
Thank you for your continued patience
Thank you for your continued patience while we work to support the return of MV Caledonian Isles to service.
We are focused on making the most appropriate use of the time while we have with her off-service. While we know this doesn't alleviate the current challenge short term, we hope it will benefit us in the new year. Again, we sincerely apologise to our customers and communities across the network who have been affected by this disruption.
Update 08 October 2024
We are very keen to keep you updated with the latest information on repairs to MV Caledonian Isles, and our plans to support services to and from Arran during her absence.
Latest information on Arran service plans
MV Caledonian Isles will be out of service until mid-November at the earliest. We've shared full details on the background to the repairs under the 'MV Caledonian Isles' heading below.
The current vessel deployment plan will remain in place until the end of the summer timetable period on 20 October 2024 - this means that MV Hebridean Isles will continue to operate the route between Ardrossan and Brodick and MV Alfred will remain on the Troon-Brodick service. You can view timetables for these services here.
The coffee cabin will be open on MV Hebridean Isles, however, due to crew availability, there will be a reduced retail offering onboard.
Customer bookings
If you have a booking for travel between Ardrossan - Brodick for this period, we will contact you should your booking be affected. We are working through bookings in date order of sailing, prioritising Thursday 10 and Friday 11 October in the first instance.
While this work is underway, it may seem that some sailings are not available to book / amend. New bookings and amendments for this service and Troon - Brodick between Thursday 10 and Sunday 20 October are currently closed. This is temporary. Please do check back.
How to stay up to date
As always, we'll keep our customers informed about the very latest service details on our Service Status & Information pages, X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and through our SMS text subscription services.
Passenger Rights
Customers with existing bookings which are affected by service disruption retain certain rights and entitlements in line with The Merchant Shipping (Passengers' Rights) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. We've shared full details on this in our previous update below.
Further details on MV Caledonian Isles
Since the last update, engineers have identified that the clutch outer sleeve in the port gearbox is damaged and must be replaced. Spares have been ordered, but they are on a long lead time, and we are now looking at alternative options to replace the damaged parts. We have also identified the need for repairs to the starboard stern tube. As outlined above, it will take until mid November at the earliest for this work to be completed.
MV Caledonian Isles is scheduled for her mandatory annual overhaul between 6 January 2025 and 3 February 2025. We are reviewing the works scheduled for this period and where feasible will complete as much of this as possible during the current repair. The vessel will still require a short period in dock in the new year, which is something we must adhere to. Where possible, we will reduce that window as much as we can by carrying out planned works between now and mid-November.
An important note on vessel deployment across the network
In light of this, we are revisiting our vessel deployment plan for the weeks and months ahead. We have a plan in place for the winter timetable, but this must also now account for the delay to MV Caledonian Isles, and we are reviewing all options open to us for the period.
We will provide a further update to customers on 17 October 2024.
It has been a long and challenging time for those communities who rely on MV Caledonian Isles - and we are disappointed to be sharing news which delay her return further. We share your disappointment. That said, we stay focused on minimising disruption to you wherever we can, and we appreciate your continued patience and understanding.
Update 01 October 2024
We are keen to keep you updated on repairs to MV Caledonian Isles. As communicated last week, the vessel's return to service has been delayed. We've shared full details on that under the relevant heading, below. Firstly, what to cover details on what customers should expect regarding services to/from Arran, up to 9 October.
Latest information on Arran service plans
MV Hebridean Isles will remain on the Ardrossan-Brodick service until at least 9 October 2024 while MV Isle of Arran undergoes overhaul and while MV Caledonian Isles undertakes repairs. MV Alfred will continue to operate the Troon-Brodick service. You can view timetables for these services here.
Weight restriction continue to be in operation on MV Hebridean Isles due to an issue with the stern ramp. This means some commercial traffic will be diverted to Troon rather than Ardrossan, and some non-commercial traffic will be diverted to Ardrossan rather than Troon.
The coffee cabin will be open on MV Hebridean Isles, however, due to crew availability, there will be a reduced retail offering onboard.
Customer bookings
If you have a booking for travel between Ardrossan - Brodick for this period, we will contact you should your booking be affected. We are working through bookings in date order of sailing, prioritising sailings for Thursday 3 October and Friday 4 October. We really appreciate your patience with our teams.
While this work is underway, it may seem that some sailings are not available to book / amend. This is temporary. Please do check back.
Keep up to date with the latest information
As always, we'll keep our customers informed about the very latest service details on our Service Status & Information pages, X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and through our SMS text subscription services.
Passenger Rights
Customers with existing bookings which are affected by service disruption retain certain rights and entitlements in line with The Merchant Shipping (Passengers' Rights) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. We've shared full details on this in our previous update below.
Further details on MV Caledonian Isles
As set out in our previous update, MV Caledonian has been further delayed in returning to service. This is due to a recently uncovered issue with the vessel's port gearbox. Spare parts were identified last week, ordered and are due to arrive early this week (week commencing 30 September). Meantime, the gearbox has been stripped down and cleaning is underway, before installation of new parts. Once complete, alignment work with the gearbox and engine will be required - we anticipate this work will take ten days, although this is subject to change based on repairs and alignment work.
Vessel deployment across the network
The decision to move MV Hebridean Isles to support services to/from Arran influences services for Islay-Kennacraig and Mallaig-Lochboisdale as well as Oban-Craignure. You can find full details on those services in the links below.
We are sorry for the inconvenience
It has been a long, challenging period for repairs to MV Caledonian Isles, and we are very sorry the inconvenience to our customers and the communities we serve.
Our team continues to work with external contractors to ensure that MV Caledonian Isles returns to service as swiftly as possible, in addition to that, our focus remains on minimising disruption with the vessels we have available to us.
Update 24 September, 17:15
This information was further updated on Wednesday 25 September, 12:45, with details of weather disruption affecting our service plans on Thursday 26 September
We want to share with you the latest details on our Arran services. As communicated earlier, the return to service of MV Caledonian Isles has been delayed. We've shared the latest details on the vessel itself below. Firstly, we're keen to share with you how this will affect our services to Arran.
Latest information on Arran service plans
MV Isle of Arran, which has been operating on the Ardrossan - Brodick service, must commence overhaul and will be removed from service from this afternoon, Tuesday 24 September. The timing is challenging; however, this overhaul cannot be delayed due to the vessel's certification dates.
As always, we'll keep our customers informed about the very latest service details on our Service Status & Information pages, X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and our SMS text subscription services - however, we've summarised the key details below.
Tuesday 24 September and Wednesday 25 September
Ardrossan - Brodick services will be cancelled from 15:15 on Tuesday 24 September, and all day Wednesday 25 September. MV Alfred, which continues to operate between Troon - Brodick, will operate an additional sailing on Wednesday 25 September. However, please don't present for travel on the Troon - Brodick route without a confirmed booking. Understandably, the service will be busy over the next few days, and travel cannot be guaranteed without a confirmed booking in place.
Thursday 26 September - Wednesday 2 October (inclusive)
MV Hebridean Isles will operate the published Ardrossan - Brodick summer timetable*.
Weight restrictions will be in operation on MV Hebridean Isles due to an issue with the stern ramp. This means some commercial traffic will be diverted to Troon rather than Ardrossan, and some non-commercial traffic will be diverted to Ardrossan rather than Troon. We've shared more below on how we'll inform and support those customers affected.
*Update 25 September, 12:45 - on Thursday 26 September, due to strong easterly winds making the berth at Ardrossan unsuitable, MV Hebridean Isles will be diverted to Troon, and operate an amended Troon - Brodick timetable. On Friday 27 September, the vessel will operate a 06:40 Troon - Brodick sailing, and revert to the normal timetable with the 08:20 Brodick - Ardrossan service. For full details, including information on shuttle buses between Ardrossan and Troon to support foot passengers, please check our Service Status & Information pages.
Customer bookings
If you have a booking for travel between Ardrossan - Brodick for this period, we will be in contact with you in date order of travel to advise you of your alternative sailings. We are allocating space based on the date in which bookings were made. Work to update our booking system and contact customers will take time - we do appreciate your patience.
All customers with bookings on the Ardrossan - Brodick route for 24 and 25 September 2024 have been contacted and supported. Lifeline traffic has been prioritised on sailings from Troon.
Also, while work is underway on our booking system, you may notice that some sailings on the Troon - Brodick route may appear unavailable, however this is temporary so please do check back.
Support for Arran services
Customers are also reminded that the Turn Up and Go Claonaig - Lochranza service remains available, however, due to the volume of displaced traffic from Ardrossan - Brodick service, we expect the Claonaig - Lochranza service to be very busy, and extended wait times can be expected. View Claonaig - Lochranza timetable here.
If you are new to the Claonaig - Lochranza route, we've provided useful information here to help you on your journey
Vessel deployment decisions
The vessel deployment plan for this period of disruption has been evaluated against our Route Prioritisation Matrix - and community feedback from across the network. This framework, which is available via our website here, guides decision making around services on our major vessel routes during periods of disruption.
The decision to move MV Hebridean Isles to support services to/from Arran will have an effect on vessel deployment and services for Islay - Kennacraig and Mallaig - Lochboisdale. We've shared more details for these services in individual route updates on our website:
This vessel deployment plan will remain in place up to and including Wednesday 2 October. Should MV Caledonian Isles be able to return to service before then, vessels will revert to their original routes as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we will keep all vessel deployment under review for the duration of this disruption and continue to investigate options to minimise this.
Latest on MV Caledonian Isles
As outlined below, following her return to Brodick on Sunday 22 September, an unforeseen technical issue with her gear box was identified. An inspection is underway at Ocean Terminal, Greenock, and the vessel will move to James Watt Dock, Greenock on Wednesday 25 September - we'll share more details on this as soon as we have them. This news is challenging for customers and communities - especially as it follows an extensive period of repairs at a shipyard on the Mersey. Our team is working closely with external contractors and all parties involved with the vessel to expedite these repairs and return her back to our service as quicky as possible.
Passenger Rights
Customers with existing bookings which are affected by service disruption retain certain rights and entitlements in line with The Merchant Shipping (Passengers' Rights) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019. We've shared full details on this in our previous update below.
Keep up to date with the latest information
As always, we'll keep our customers informed about the very latest service details on our Service Status & Information pages, X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and through our SMS text subscription services.
We are sorry for the inconvenience
It has been a lengthy process to repair MV Caledonian Isles - and this news at this stage is disappointing for our customers, communities and our team.
We are continuing to minimise disruption wherever possible. Our team is working on this on your behalf - and we know you will be kind when interacting with them.
Thank you for your continued patience - and we are so sorry for the inconvenience.
Update 23 September, 16:35
Following our previous update earlier today, which you can read below, we wanted to provide the very latest information regarding the technical problem with MV Caledonian Isles, which has further delayed its return to service on the Ardrossan - Brodick route.
The vessel, which returned to Brodick, Arran yesterday, Sunday 22 September, following an extensive period of repairs at a shipyard on the Mersey, is currently undergoing investigation for an unforeseen technical problem with its port gearbox.
To facilitate repairs, the vessel will now temporarily relocate to the Ocean Terminal at Greenock, before moving to James Watt Dock in Greenock on Wednesday 25 September.
Our teams are working closely with external contractors to expedite these repairs as quickly as possible to return the vessel to service.
Latest update on Arran service plans
As we outlined in our previous update, MV Isle of Arran will continue operating the Ardrossan - Brodick service up to and including the 13:55 Brodick - Ardrossan sailing on Tuesday 24 September.
MV Isle of Arran is then required to enter dry dock for its own annual overhaul period, which cannot be delayed.
Therefore, services on the Ardrossan - Brodick route will be cancelled effective from the 15:15 Ardrossan - Brodick sailing on Tuesday 24 September, and will remain cancelled throughout Wednesday 25 September.
Customer bookings
If you have a booking which will be affected by this disruption, our teams will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
We know these service changes will have a significant impact on the affected customers and communities, and we'll do everything we can to support you. Work to contact customers and update our booking systems will take time, so please be patient - we'll contact you directly as soon as possible.
Whilst this work takes place, you may notice that some sailings on the Ardrossan - Brodick and Troon - Brodick routes appear unavailable - however, this is temporary, so please do check back.
Alternative routes to/from Arran
Troon - Brodick
MV Alfred will continue to operate the published Troon - Brodick timetable. View Troon - Brodick timetable here.
Customers should not present for travel on the Troon - Brodick service without a booking. We expect this service to be very busy in the coming days, and customers without a confirmed booking cannot be guaranteed travel.
To support foot passengers using the Troon - Brodick service, we are arranging shuttle buses to operate between Ardrossan Ferry Terminal and Troon Ferry Terminal to connect with MV Alfred departures and arrivals. Full details of these shuttle buses are available on our Service Status & Information page for the Ardrossan - Brodick route.
Claonaig - Lochranza
Customers are also reminded that the Turn Up and Go Claonaig - Lochranza service remains available, however, due to the volume of displaced traffic from Ardrossan - Brodick service, we expect the Claonaig - Lochranza service to be very busy, and extended wait times can be expected. View Claonaig - Lochranza timetable here.
If you are new to the Claonaig - Lochranza route, we've provided useful information here to help you on your journey
Next steps
As a matter of priority, we are currently reviewing our vessel deployment options to provide additional capacity on our Arran routes from Thursday 26 September, and we'll provide a further update on these plans by Wednesday 25 September.
Keep up to date with the latest information
Our Service Status & Information pages will keep you up to date with the very latest details. You can also follow our X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and subscribe to our SMS text subscription services.
We'll also continue to keep you informed about MV Caledonian Isles and our Arran services through this Customer Update.
Passenger Rights information
Customers with existing bookings which are affected by service disruption retain certain rights and entitlements in line with The Merchant Shipping (Passengers' Rights) (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Customers are advised that this disruption is due to technical reasons, and therefore the following Passenger Rights criteria apply (within the parameters detailed at the Passenger Rights section of our website):
Snacks, meals and refreshments
Overnight accommodation
Additional mileage incurred
Compensation based at a percentage rate of the ticket price you paid for the disrupted leg of your journey
Find out what you may be entitled to in the event of a disruption or cancellation to your sailing at the Passenger Rights section of our website, which also includes a link to our online claim form.
We're sorry for the inconvenience
As we mentioned in our previous update, we know this unexpected further problem with MV Caledonian Isles will be concerning and disappointing.
Our teams are doing everything they can to return the vessel to service as quickly as possible, and to support customers who will be affected in the coming days. This is also a challenging time for them, and we know you'll show kindness when interacting with them.
Thank you for your continuing patience and understanding, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused.
Update 23 September, 12:15
We are keen to keep you up to date with the latest information on MV Caledonian Isles, and its progress to returning to service on the Ardrossan - Brodick route.
Following successful sea trials on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September, the vessel sailed back to Brodick, Arran, after departing from the shipyard on the Mersey, where substantial repairs have been taking place since February 2024.
Following completion of berthing trials yesterday evening, Sunday 23 September, routine checks identified an issue with the vessel's port gearbox, which requires investigation before it returns to service.
Investigations began immediately after the problem was identified, and are continuing this morning, Monday 23 September, in collaboration with the manufacturer.
Effect on Arran services
Monday 23 September
MV Isle of Arran will continue operating the timetabled Ardrossan - Brodick service today, Monday 23 September - we had built this possibility into our contingency planning, and existing customer bookings will not be affected,
Tuesday 24 September
MV Isle of Arran will also remain operating the timetabled Ardrossan - Brodick service on Tuesday 24 September up to and including the 13:55 Brodick - Ardrossan sailing.
As MV Isle of Arran has a smaller capacity than MV Caledonian Isles, some bookings for sailings up to and including the 13:55 Brodick - Ardrossan will be affected - if you have an existing booking which is affected, our teams will be in touch with you directly as soon as possible.
Our booking system is currently being updated to reflect these changes. Whilst this work takes place, it may seem that some sailings are unavailable - however, this is temporary, so please do check back.
We'll provide further details on our service plans beyond this point as soon as possible, once more information becomes available regarding the status of MV Caledonian Isles.
MV Alfred remains operating the Troon - Brodick service, as previously advised, until 19 October.
Keeping up to date with the latest information
As always, we'll keep you up to date with the very latest via our Service Status & Information pages, X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and our SMS text subscription services.
We'll also continue to keep you informed about MV Caledonian Isles and the Ardrossan - Brodick service through this Customer Update.
Thank you to our customers and communities
We know this unexpected further problem will be concerning and frustrating - our teams continue to work hard to return MV Caledonian Isles to service as soon as possible. Thank you for your continuing patience and understanding.
Update 20 September
We wanted to update our customers on the latest information on the ongoing repairs to MV Caledonian Isles, and the vessel's expected return to service.
In our previous update on 13 September, which you can read below, we explained that, due to a delay in this very complex and substantial repair process, we now expected sea trials to take place on 16 & 17 September. However, those sea trials were further delayed.
Reason for the delay to sea trials
During testing of the starboard main engine, an additional issue was identified, involving leaks in a cylinder head. This issue needed to be investigated and rectified before full securing and commissioning of the starboard main engine could take place, and before sea trials began. This has caused a knock-on delay to the vessel's passage from the shipyard on the Mersey back to Arran.
This work was crucial, not only to ensure that sea trials could be completed successfully, but also to maintain the future reliability of the vessel.
Next steps
We're pleased to inform you that sea trials will be underway this morning, Friday 20 September, and will continue for the remainder of today, Friday, and tomorrow, Saturday 21 September.
We are confident that these will be completed successfully, allowing the vessel to sail from the Mersey back to Arran overnight on Saturday 21 September.
Once the vessel arrives back at its home port on Sunday 22 September, ramp trials and compass adjustments will be completed, allowing the vessel to return to service on the Ardrossan-Brodick route on Monday 23 September.
Contingency plans for any further delay
We want to assure our customers that our teams continue to work closely with the shipyard, and contingencies have been developed should there be any further delays to sea trials, or in response to any issues identified during them.
Customer bookings
We are conscious that customers with upcoming bookings for Ardrossan-Brodick services may need information and reassurance about their travel arrangements.
MV Isle of Arran and MV Alfred will continue to operate services to/from Arran on Friday 20, Saturday 21, and Sunday 22 September - if you are travelling this weekend, please keep in touch our Service Status & Information pages, as adverse weather conditions are affecting Arran services.
MV Alfred will continue to operate Troon - Brodick services, as published, until 19 October, and our booking system remains open for these sailings.
We've planned for MV Isle of Arran to remain operating the Ardrossan - Brodick service on Monday 23 September. Our booking system reflects MV Isle of Arran's capacity for Monday 23 September, and remains open for bookings.
We fully expect MV Caledonian Isles to return to the Ardrossan - Brodick service on Monday 23 September, taking over from MV Isle of Arran, and the Ardrossan - Brodick service remains open for bookings.
In the unlikely event of any further delay to MV Caledonian Isles' return to service beyond Monday 23 September, please be assured that our teams will be in touch directly any customers with bookings which may be affected.
How to keep up to date with the latest information
As always, we encourage all customers to keep in touch with our normal communication channels, for the very latest up-to-date information - our Service Status & Information pages, X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and our SMS text subscription services.
As we mentioned above, if you have an existing booking which is affected by any type of service disruption, our teams will contact you directly.
This Customer Update will also be further updated on Monday 23 September, to bring you up to date with the latest background information.
Thank you again to our customers and communities for your patience and understanding during the recent period - please be assured that our teams continue to work hard to manage the return of MV Caledonian Isles to service.
Update 13 September
We are keen to keep our customers informed on the ongoing repairs to MV Caledonian Isles.
Repairs are continuing to progress, however, sea trials have been rescheduled. This is due to a delay caused by the securing of the Starboard Main Engine to the vessel bedplate. An alternative proposal was created and has now been approved. Work on this approved approach will commence today, 13 September 2024.
As a result, we now expect sea trials to take place on 16 & 17 September. Should they be successful, we expect the vessel to be back in service within a couple of days of their completion.
Our teams are working with the shipyard to closely monitor and continue to expedite this complex and substantial repair process - which has involved removing and dismantling engines completely.
Bookings for sailings on the Ardrossan-Brodick route remain open as normal for reservations and amendments. In addition, MV Alfred will now continue to operate the Troon-Brodick services until 19 October - and this service also remains open for reservations.
Thank you for your continued patience. We will continue to keep you updated of any further developments and, as always, the latest information on our Arran services is available on our Service Status & Information pages.
Update 3 September
Further to our previous updates on repairs to MV Caledonian Isles, we wanted to update our customers on the latest information.
Repairs to the vessel are continuing to progress. Final alignment work to the vessel is ongoing, and following this sea trials will commence. We expect sea trials to complete by approximately 10 September.
We'll continue to keep you updated on this progress, and an update on the vessel's return to service will be provided in due course.
In the meantime, MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate the Ardrossan-Brodick service, with MV Alfred operating on the Troon-Brodick route.
As always, the latest information on our Arran services is available on our Service Status & Information pages.
Update 29 August 2024
Repairs to MV Caledonian Isles are progressing and the vessel is expected to begin sea trials from Wednesday 4 September 2024. MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate sailings from Ardrossan-Brodick and MV Alfred will continue to operate Troon-Brodick.
An update on the return date of MV Caledonian Isles will be provided following successful sea trials.
Sailings from 10 to 23 September 2024 are now open for bookings and amendments. All customers affected have been contacted by our teams and any remaining space is now available to book.
For up to the minute details on the service status of sailings to / from Arran, please check our Service Status & Information pages for the routes.
Update 7 August 2024
Further to our previous updates on repairs to MV Caledonian Isles, we wanted to update our customers that her return to service is likely to be further delayed.
Reasons for MV Caledonian Isles's delayed return to service
The vessel, which ordinarily operates the Ardrossan-Brodick route has been undergoing extensive repairs since January and further repairs are required due to damage caused during testing. Our team is working with the yard to complete this work at pace.
Timeline for return to service
To give certainty to our customers, and the community, MV Isle of Arran and MV Alfred will continue to operate the service, and we are in the process of updating our booking system to reflect this. We will continue to keep customers updated as soon as we have additional information to share.
Customer bookings
While work is underway to update the system, it may seem that bookings between 29 August and 23 September are unavailable - however, this is temporary, so please do check back.
As always, the latest information on Arran services is available on our Service Status and Information pages.
Thank you to our customers and communities for your patience as we work hard to bring MV Caledonian Isles through this extensive period of repair and back to service.
Update 9 March 2024
Our main Arran service will return to operate to / from Ardrossan-Brodick from 08:20 Monday 11 March 2024. The timetable details can be viewed on our Service Status and Information page.
Recent weather conditions had previously necessitated a temporary relocation to Troon. Thank you to our customers for your understanding.
As always, and especially given the weather forecast, if you are travelling with us, please stay in touch for up to the minute information on the service via our service status and information pages, and via @CalMac_Updates on 'X' (formerly Twitter).
Updated: 8 March 2024
Ticketing Update for Troon - Friday 8 March
We continue to strongly encourage customers (including foot passengers) intending to use Troon-Brodick sailings to book in advance. Online sales close 2 hours prior to sailing departure. Due to the reduced number of sailings, we cannot guarantee that customers without a booking will be able to travel.
We are now able to offer ticket sales at Troon (subject to space being available) using card/contactless methods only. We cannot currently accept cash payments at Troon. Customers wishing to purchase a ticket using cash (subject to space being available) can do so at Ardrossan, from where a shuttle bus is operating to Troon.
Updated: 6 March 2024
The Arran service will operate from Troon - Brodick from Friday 8 March to Sunday 10 March 2024 inclusive since forecasted weather conditions, specifically wind direction, deem the Arran Berth at Ardrossan unsuitable for this period. This service will be operated by MV Isle of Arran.
For this period Brodick (Arran) port operations will continue as normal around the amended timetable to Troon.
We will provide an update for services to Arran from Monday 11 March on the afternoon of Saturday 9 March. In the meantime, we've shared all the information you will need to support you in traveling to/from Arran via Troon.
Timetable
The timetable for the period is available on our service status and information page which carries the very latest details on our service.
As always, and especially given the weather forecast, please stay in touch with us for up to the minute information on the service via our service status and information page, and via @CalMac_Updates on 'X' (formerly Twitter).
Customer reservations
If you have a booking with us which has been affected / moved to Troon, our port teams will be in contact with you to provide information.
If you are planning to travel to Brodick (from Troon), please book prior to travel. Customers with vehicles wishing to travel on this route, must make a prior reservation (please select Troon -Brodick when booking online). We very strongly encourage foot passengers to book in advance also since we cannot guarantee that customers without a booking will be able to travel.
Our booking system is currently being updated to reflect the changes. This is being carried out in stages. While this work is underway, it may appear that some sailings appear unavailable, so please do check back for availability.
Important information on travel via Troon
Our FAQs for travel to/from Troon are now available. Please take a moment to read them- they are an important guide to travelling to and from Troon, and will include details on the shuttle buses we have organised to connect you from Ardrossan Ferry Terminal and Troon train station to Troon port, and information on passenger facilities at Troon, for instance - there are no catering facilities at the port's terminal building. We will also include details on car parking, which is now available at Troon.
We encourage anybody who is returning from the island from Monday onwards (if the service has returned to Ardrossan) to leave their car in the car park at Ardrossan and use the shuttle bus to travel to Troon on the outward journey, as if the service has returned to operating from Ardrossan there will be no transport in place from Monday onwards between Ardrossan and Troon. If the service were to remain in operation from Troon from Monday, buses would remain in place.
Thank you for your patience - our team as always is working hard to minimise the effect of weather on the service, wherever possible.
Updated: 15 February 2024
Our main Arran service will return to operate to / from Ardrossan from 07:00, Friday 16 February 2024. View the timetable for the route on our timetable page.
Recent weather conditions and repairs to the main berth at Ardrossan by Peel Ports - the harbour authority - had previously necessitated a temporary relocation to Troon.
During periods of poor weather, Troon remains an alternative option to support our main Arran service to Brodick. Given resource availability, this won't happen on a sailing-by-sailing basis, however, should the need arise again, we'll let you know as quickly as possible.
Lochranza-Claonaig services
Sailings from Lochranza to Claonaig will continue to provide an alternative connection between Arran and the mainland. Sailing times can be found on our service status pages.
At this time of year especially, we encourage customers intending to travel to stay up to date with the latest information via our service status and information pages and via our @CalMac_Updates page on X (formerly Twitter).
Thank you for your patience during the temporary relocation to Troon - a move which took place at pace for customers and staff alike.
Updated 14 February 2024
An update on whether the main Arran service will continue to temporarily operate from Troon from Friday 16 February, or return to Ardrossan will be provided by 3pm on 15 February 2024 via our service status and information pages.
Peel Ports, the harbour authority managing repairs to fenders on the Arran berth in Ardrossan advised this afternoon that repairs are ongoing, and a further update will be provided on 15 February.
The service will continue to operate to/from Troon-Brodick on 15 February as planned. We will update customers as soon as we have further information from Peel Ports. Thank you for your ongoing patience.
Update: 9 February 2024
Building on the recent updates published this week regarding how we are supporting services to Arran, we have shared a further update below to provide customers with advance information:
Troon-Brodick service continuing to Thursday 15 February
The main Arran service will continue to temporarily operate from Troon to Brodick until Thursday 15 February.
We will provide an update on services from Friday 16 February by Wednesday 14 February on our service status and information page for the route.
This temporary measure was previously put in place since forecast weather conditions would affect the use of the main berth at Ardrossan. Given current weather conditions for Tuesday 13 February and Wednesday 14 February present the same issue, in addition to uncertainty of timescales around Peel Ports' completion of repairs to the berth's fender - the temporary relocation has been extended to provide service reliability and reassurance for customers.
The temporary timetable will remain in place and can be viewed on our service status and information page for the route, where we also provide the latest information on all services.
Customer reservations
If you have a booking with us which is likely to be affected, our team will be in contact with you to provide information.
If you are planning to travel to Brodick (from Troon), please book prior to travel. There is no ticket office at Troon, so all customers wishing to travel on this route, will need to have made a prior reservation (please select Troon -Brodick when booking online). Our booking system is currently being updated to reflect the changes. This is being carried out in stages. While this work is underway, it may appear that some sailings appear unavailable, so please do check back for availability.
Information on travel via Troon
Please review our FAQs which provide information on travelling to and from Troon, including details on the shuttle buses we have organised to connect you from Ardrossan Ferry Terminal and Troon train station to Troon port.
Update: 08 February 2024
Freight service Troon-Brodick from 10 February 2024
On Saturday 10 February, MV Alfred, which has been delivering freight services between Troon-Brodick will be deployed to provide cover on the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy service from Monday 12 February - Friday 16 February, while MV Hebrides departs for annual overhaul.
On Friday 16 February, MV Alfred will begin transit to Birkenhead to begin her own overhaul period. Her next period of deployment will be confirmed in due course.
MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate a single vessel service to Brodick, Arran. As per the details below, given forecast weather conditions, this will operate to/from Troon between Thursday 8 February - Sunday 11 February. (Thursday 8 and Friday 9 February have been cancelled due to adverse weather forecasts)
We've also provided full details below on how we will support customers with transportation to .
Update: 07 February 2024
Following successful berthing trials today, Wednesday 7 February 2024, the main Arran service will operate between Troon and Brodick from Thursday 8 February - Sunday 11 February, inclusive.
This means that sailings on the Ardrossan-Brodick route will temporarily relocate to Troon-Brodick. This is a temporary measure given that forecast weather conditions will affect use of the main berth from Ardrossan.
The alternative timetable can be viewed on our service status and information pages.
A shuttle bus from Ardrossan ferry terminal and Troon train station will be available to connect customers to each sailing - full details on shuttle buses, and to help our customers understand more about the temporary relocation can be found in our customer FAQs.
Please note, sailings on Sunday 11 February may revert to Ardrossan - Brodick if there's an improvement in the weather. As always at this time of year, we encourage our customers to stay connected to the service status and information page to see the very latest detail on service on this route. If you have a booking for Sunday, our teams will keep you updated if there are any changes.
Update: 06 February 2024
Following on from our recent updates, we want to provide customers with clarity and the latest details on how we are supporting services to and from Arran.
As always, and at this time of year especially, please stay connected with us via our service status and information pages for the very latest details on each route, and by following updates from our team at @CalMac_Updates on X (formerly Twitter).
Arran services between Ardrossan/Troon-Brodick
As per our update on Friday 2 February, the harbour authority, Peel Ports confirmed the Irish berth at Ardrossan Harbour would close permanently. However, MV Isle of Arran will continue to operate a single vessel service from the main berth at Ardrossan.
Current weather forecasts predict that services from the main berth may be affected during 7 February to 10 February. Should your reservation be affected, we will contact you to provide an update. You can also stay informed via our service status and information pages which carries the latest details on the service.
Working with our partners, we have moved quickly to set up a commercial operation between Troon and Brodick following the closure by Peel Ports - and MV Alfred is currently operating a freight only service on this route.
Further works are required to operate a non-commercial service from Troon-Brodick as an alternative, and our team is working with our partners to assess when we may be able to do this.
To provide further resilience to the service, MV Isle of Arran will undertake berthing trials at Troon to assess whether this can be used as an alternative berth during the upcoming period of inclement weather. Trials will take place on Wednesday 7 February and to allow for these, there will be a service cancellation. Details of the changes to service will be available on our service status and information pages.
Gourock has also been discounted as an option given the predicted weather, and the alternative of Troon will allow us to deliver as much service as possible with the shorter passage time between Brodick and Troon rather than Brodick and Gourock.
Arran services: Lochranza-Claonaig
Alternative Arran sailings between Lochranza and Claonaig will also continue to operate. Details of these sailings can be found on our service status and information pages.
MV Caledonian Isles
MV Caledonian Isles, which operates between Ardrossan-Brodick, is currently undergoing annual overhaul in Greenock. As per our previous update to customers, additional steel renewal works were identified. Due to dock availability and resources at the yard, she will transfer to Cammel Laird, Birkenhead this week (w/c 5 February) to assess and complete the work. An update on timescales for the vessel's return will be available via our service status and information pages once inspections have taken place.
Our team is focused on doing all we can to support our services and minimising the effect of annual overhaul and such challenges as the weather and closure of the Irish berth on our customers. We thank you for the patience you have shown - and as always, we will continue to keep our customers and community stakeholders informed.