Customer Update - Peel Ports' temporary closure of Irish Berth at Ardrossan

Updated: Friday 2 February 2024

Peel Ports, the harbour authority, has confirmed today that the Irish Berth at Ardrossan Harbour is to close permanently, following a period of immediate temporary closure which had been announced on 19 January 2024.

One of our vessels, MV Alfred, which operated on the Ardrossan-Brodick service, could only use the Irish berth at Ardrossan - therefore, she has been operating a commercial only service between Troon and Brodick, while MV Isle of Arran delivers a single vessel timetable on the Ardrossan-Brodick route.

This closure is frustrating for us, and challenging for the communities we serve - however we are committed to doing everything we can to support our customers. We are continuing to operate services to Arran using the main berth at Ardrossan with MV Isle of Arran with additional commercial services provided by MV Alfred from Troon. Additional sailings between Lochranza and Claonaig will also continue to operate.

For the latest information, please visit our Service Status and Information page which provides up to the minute details on the service.

Updated: Tuesday 23 January 2024

We've shared a further update with customers regarding Arran services between Ardrossan-Brodick, which builds on the information below. Given current weather conditions and the delay to the return of vessels from overhaul, please continue to check our service status and information pages for the very latest detail on this route.

Updated: Friday 19 January 2024

Following a dive inspection at the Irish berth in Ardrossan Harbour by the local harbour authority, Peel Ports, they have advised that all harbour users are required to cease operations using the Irish Berth at Ardrossan until at least 24 January.

Ardrossan to Brodick services

As one of our vessels operating on the Ardrossan to Brodick service, MV Alfred can only use the Irish berth, this means that the vessel will be withdrawn from service and her sailings will be cancelled until at least 24 January inclusive.

Options for MV Alfred to operate a service to/from Troon and Brodick are currently being considered and if this is possible, it may be restricted to freight only. Further trials will be required to be carried out week beginning Monday 22 January and plans will then be put in place depending on the outcome.

If you have a reservation between 20 January 2024 and 24 January 2024 (inclusive) which is affected, our team is in the process of contacting customers to move your booking to an alternative Ardrossan-Brodick sailing by MV Isle of Arran, which also operates this route.

We will operate additional sailings from Lochranza to Claonaig while the Irish berth is closed. Full details are available on our service status and information page.

Next steps by Peel Ports

Further dive inspections will be carried out by Peel Ports within the harbour over the next week and their team will inform Caledonian MacBrayne when it will be possible to reopen the Irish berth. We expect the closure of the Irish berth will be reviewed week commencing 22 January. As soon as further updates are made available, we will let our customers and communities know.

We would like to apologise to those customers affected - as always, we will continue to keep you informed with any additional updates we have. You can also stay in contact with us by checking our Service Status and Information pages which carry the very latest information on each service and route. Our @CalMac_Updates channel on X (formerly Twitter) will also share the latest details.

Our team will be in contact with those of you who have reservations that are affected and are available to help you with any other support you may require.