What is the standby process for motorhomes, campervans and caravans?

Following discussions with Transport Scotland and feedback from Stakeholder Groups, motorhomes, campervans and those vehicles towing a caravan will not be able to join standby queues at ports on the following routes:  

• Ardrossan - Brodick 

• Ardrossan - Campbeltown (seasonal) 

• Kennacraig - Islay - Colonsay  

• Oban - Colonsay  

• Oban - Coll - Tiree  

• Oban - Lismore  

• Oban - Craignure 

• Oban - Castlebay  

• Mallaig - Armadale  

• Mallaig - Lochboisdale - Oban 

• Uig - Tarbert (Harris) - Lochmaddy  

• Ullapool - Stornoway  

• Berneray - Leverburgh (Sound of Harris) 

• Ardmhor - Eriskay (Sound of Barra) 

To travel on the next available sailing on these routes, motorhomes, campervans and caravans will need to have a confirmed space and will be unable to wait in the standby queues.  

This change has been introduced to prioritise customers without alternative accommodation and to help optimise use of the limited deck space that remains once all booked customers and their vehicles are loaded onto a vessel.  

An unbooked vehicle of any size without on board accommodation may need priority. Also, where there's very little deck space left over, we can optimise its use by shipping car type vehicles from standby lanes since they can park at angles and fit into the remaining tight spaces. Unfortunately, larger vehicles like motorhomes, campervans and vehicles towing caravans are less able to do so.  

If we use our standby lanes for cars, we'll be better placed to make efficient use of remaining space. This approach also avoids motorhome / campervan and caravan customers sitting in stand-by queues when there's less possibility of being able to fit within the space that's left.