Customer Update: Retirement of MV Hebridean Isles
Customer Update - Retirement of MV Hebridean Isles
Friday 2 August 2024
After almost four decades of operation, MV Hebridean Isles, which primarily operates the Islay route, will leave Caledonian MacBrayne's fleet this November as, alongside CMAL, we modernise the major vessel fleet.
You can find out more about MV Hebridean Isles' retirement, and the context of this decision, in our News Release, but we've summarised the key information below.
Will MV Hebridean Isles be replaced?
The first of four new major vessels being built in Turkey, MV Isle of Islay, will operate the route when she enters service later this year. A second vessel, MV Loch Indaal, will serve Islay from early 2025. Works are ongoing to upgrade Kennacraig port on the mainland, and Port Askaig on Islay, in preparation for the new vessels arriving. They will increase vehicle and freight capacity on the route by almost 40%.
We're also committed to getting the first of our new Arran vessels, MV Glen Sannox, into service as quickly as possible later this year.
These new vessels will not only enhance the routes which they will serve, but also help increase resilience and vessel deployment options across our network.
Why not allow MV Hebridean Isles to enter overhaul and keep her in the fleet?
Due to her age, MV Hebridean Isles requires a mandatory five-year survey when she enters overhaul. We have already identified a significant scope of works required which would in a best-case scenario take months in drydock to address.
The plan has always been to dispose of MV Hebridean Isles when the new vessels enter service.
What happens to the Islay route during the Winter 2024/2025 timetable?
We are developing a plan to maintain required capacity and service levels in winter for Islay, which we know is a busy route. We will provide a further update on that in the coming weeks.
What happens to the other routes which MV Hebridean Isles serves during the annual overhaul period?
We are developing our winter timetable plans for routes across our network, including those which are usually supported by MV Hebridean Isles whilst their normal vessels are undergoing their annual overhaul. We want to reassure our customers that MV Hebridean Isles' retirement has been factored into these plans.
What will Caledonian MacBrayne do if there are further delays to major vessels, given it will not be possible to use MV Hebridean Isles throughout winter?
We will consult with stakeholders and communities on any delays to vessel delivery, service disruption or overhaul scheduling as it always does. We will do our best to minimise any impact this has on our services. Winter is a complex time of year to introduce new vessels, given weather and sea conditions and overhaul.
However, we are committed to getting the two new vessels scheduled to be delivered this year, MV Glen Sannox and MV Isle of Islay, into service as quickly as possible. That will follow the robust and thorough completion of sea trials and familiarisation with our crews.
As always, we'll keep our customers up-to-date with any changes to services on our Service Status & Information pages.