Customer Update - Oban - Craignure (Mull) services

Customer Update, Oban - Craignure (Mull) services

Updated 16 October 2024

Within our last update to customers, we indicated we'd share a further update with you before 17 October regarding service plans and vessel deployment on the network. We're now able to share the latest information with you.

Latest information on Mull service plans

As communicated previously, a combined service for South Uist and Mull will continue to be operated by MV Isle of Mull until the morning of Friday 18 October.

MV Loch Frisa will then operate as a single vessel service until Wednesday 23 October. MV Lord of the Isles will then operate as second vessel in place of MV Isle of Arran alongside MV Loch Frisa from Thursday 24 October - Tuesday 05 November. MV Loch Frisa will then operate as a single vessel timetable from Wednesday 06 November as scheduled. Timetables will be available shortly, and details can be viewed on the Service Status & Information for this route, which will also carry the latest information.

Customer bookings

If you have a booking for travel for the period above, we will contact you should your booking be affected. We will be working through reservations 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.

An additional note on winter timetables from 5 January 2025

Following on from our last update, we can confirm that timetables for Oban - Craignure and Fionnphort -Iona for the period 5 January - 27 March will be published to view on our website on Thursday 17 October and customer bookings and advance purchases for this period will open on Tuesday 29 October at 12noon.

Thank you for your continued patience

Thank you for your continued patience while we work to support the return of one of our major vessels, MV Caledonian Isles, to service. This has meant redeployments of vessels around the network.

Again, we sincerely apologise to our customers and communities who have been affected by this disruption.

Updated 08 October 2024

We want to share with customers the very latest information regarding our services between Oban-Craignure, Mull.

Latest information on Mull service plans

A combined service for South Uist and Mull will continue to be operated by MV Isle of Mull until the morning of Friday 18 October when MV Lord of the Isles is scheduled to return to the South Uist service for the remainder of the summer timetable period (20 October 2024). However, due to weather disruptions elsewhere in the network, our Service Status & Information pages will keep you up to date with the very latest details on sailings times for this period. You can also follow our X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and subscribe to our SMS text subscription services.

Customer bookings

If you have a booking for travel for the periods outlined above, we will contact you should your booking be affected. We are working through bookings in date order of sailing, prioritising Friday 11 October and Saturday 12 October in the first instance.

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. New bookings and amendments between Friday 11 and Friday 18 October are currently closed. This is temporary. Please do check back.

Keep up to date with the latest information

As always, 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.

An important note on vessel deployment across the network

A combined service was implemented between Oban-Craignure and Lochboisdale because MV Lord of the Isles which ordinarily operates the South Uist service needed to be redeployed to support services elsewhere on the network.

MV Caledonian Isles, which had been due to return to Arran services has needed to undertake further unforeseen repairs. It is now expected this vessel will remain out of service until mid November at the earliest.

We are now reviewing our vessel deployment plan for the winter timetable period in light of this news. As other major vessels enter and exit annual maintenance, there is likely to be a need for regular changes to vessel deployment.

As always, we aim to keep you informed. Our next update on vessel deployment will be by Thursday 17 October.

We are sorry for this inconvenience

We apologise sincerely for the disruption to the service - and thank you for your patience and support while vessels were redeployed to support services elsewhere on the network.

Update 01 October 2024

We are keen to share with you the latest information we have on the Mull service between Oban and Craignure.

Information on Mull service plans

From 3 October, and to support services on the route between Mallaig-Lochboisdale, MV Isle of Mull will operate a combined service for Oban-Craignure and Lochboisdale. This will operate on 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9 October. On 7 October, the service will operate as per the normal published timetable. - please see full details of the amended timetable here.

This deployment is taking place while major vessels on the Arran service undertake repair and overhaul. Specifically, Arran services are being supported by MV Hebridean Isles while MV Lord of the Isles, which ordinarily operates South Uist services is deployed to services between Kennacraig and Islay. From 3 October, MV Isle of Mull will operate a combined service to support services to Lochboisdale.

Customer bookings

If you have a booking for travel between Oban-Craignure which is affected during this period, we will be in contact with you. We are working through bookings in date order of sailing - and we really appreciate your patience with our teams.

Our booking system is currently being updated and while this work is underway it may seem that some sailings are not available to book. This is temporary. Please do check back.

Keep up to date with the latest information

We are sorry for the inconvenience

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause to customers - and we appreciate your patience while we deploy the vessels in the best way to support other communities across the network.

Our teams have been working hard to find solutions to support services with the vessels available. Thank you for the patience you have shown them during this challenging period.