MV Hebrides to leave dry dock and resume service
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry MV Hebrides, which was involved in an incident at Lochmaddy on Sunday September 25, will leave dry dock after repairs in Greenock on Saturday (October 15).
The vessel will return to service on the Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy service on Monday October 17, pending the successful result of sea trials on Saturday.
Monday, therefore, will also see MVs Clansman and Lord of the Isles return to their usual routes and resume normal service.
Repositioning of vessels will take place on Sunday (October 16), with minimum disruption to time-tabled services - customers are advised to check CalMac's website and social media channels for details about their routes and any changes which have been implemented. Colonsay's Sunday service has been amended to go from Kennacraig via Port Askaig using MV Hebridean Isles to allow Hebrides and Clansman to reposition. Full details of Sunday's movements are shown below. All pre-booked customers will be contacted individually to discuss any changes to arrangements.
"Many communities have been disrupted to a greater or lesser extent by MV Hebrides being taken out of service for dry-dock repairs," said CalMac's Ross Moran, General Manager Operations. "None more so than South Uist, which temporarily lost its daily return service from Lochboisdale to Mallaig with MV Lord of the Isles (LOTI). While there has been some very understandable frustration about the situation, there has also been a much appreciated amount of understanding and support, for which CalMac is very grateful.
"We thank the people and businesses of South Uist and all other communities affected by this uncertain period for their great patience and we apologise for the undoubted inconvenience. We look forward to successful completion of sea trials for MV Hebrides on Saturday and a return to normal service across the network on Monday."
Sunday 16th October
Hebrides will carry out Coll/Tiree return service (dep Oban 0715, arrive back in Oban 1530). She will then reposition to Tarbert, Harris to pick up the normal Uig-Lochmaddy-Tarbert triangle service on Monday.
LOTI departs Oban at approx 12:00 for Lochboisdale.
Clansman will finish the triangle service run at Tarbert at 2215 and return to Oban overnight to pick up the Coll/Tiree/Colonsay schedule on Monday morning.
Hebridean Isles service to Colonsay from Kennacraig via Islay as follows:
Depart Kennacraig 0945
Arrive Pt Askaig 1150
Depart Pt Askaig 1205
Arrive Colonsay 1315
Depart Colonsay 1330
Arrive Pt Askaig 1440
Depart Pt Askaig 1500
Arrive Kennacraig 1705