Small Isles freight service

The freight service provided to the Small Isles consists of the storage and shipment, quayside to quayside, of all essential items, parcels, some large/bulk items, and palletised goods up to a tonne in weight to and from the Small Isles only.

Please note - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages.   

We will accommodate all items under 25kg but where you have an item less than 25kg but over 1m in length, notice should be given to the freight team, using our Small Isles Freight Form since its dimensions mean it is likely to take up space that will require careful load planning. 

For items that are 25kg and over please review the categories and restrictions below before notifying us of your freight using the Small Isles Freight Form.

Small Isles Freight Service

The price to ship freight is based on the overall weight of the goods being transported. Please see price list for Mallaig - Small Isles route below, showing the total cost for all up to a tonne. Costs shown below are from March 2023 and are subject to change based on annual inflation.  

*Please note all charges are subject to VAT 

Freight notification using the Small Isles Freight Service Form is required for shipment for items over 25kg to and from the Small Isles. It helps customers get the most from the freight service as the freight team can manage the freight more efficiently. Where the process is not followed, these items may not be delivered, as freight notifications made using this process will take priority over them.  

• A freight notification is required for all items over 25kg and on occasion where items might not be over 25kg but are over 1m in length.   

• If you are not sure if an item is over 25kg or if it is over 1m in length, please err on the side of caution and notify us as this will help the freight team plan and prepare for the storage and delivery of freight.  

• Freight notification must be made as soon as possible after items have been ordered or at the latest 48 hours prior to the expected delivery to Mallaig or collection from a Small Isle. Food goods will be taken with 24 hours' notice if required. 

• The maximum weight limit of each consignment must not exceed a tonne. 

• To notify the freight team please use the the Small Isles Freight Service Form.

Please note - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages. 

If you are planning to ship freight over 25kg or over 1m in length but under 25kg between Mallaig and the Small Isles, please complete the Small Isles Freight Form to notify the freight team of your intention and to provide details of the item you need to transport.

Filling out the form

• We understand that some information will not be known about your freight at the time of filling out the form, however, please try to provide as many accurate details and as much information as you can about the weight, dimensions, and quantity of the freight, otherwise we may not be able to guarantee acceptance if the freight is not able to be stored or shipped within our restrictions. 

• If you don't have all the details and information available at the time of filling out the form, please follow up with the freight team as soon as you have them. Having the most accurate information about your freight items helps us check they can be accommodated, and to plan for their storage and shipment, where possible.

• Please review and refer to the Freight List to assist you in filling out the form.

• If the item you require to be shipped is not included on the freight list, you will need to check with our freight team first to check whether it can be shipped. Or select 'other' on the form and provide detail of the freight item, the freight team will review the item and follow up with you if there are any issues. Wherever possible, the team will accommodate your request, but they are restricted by the 1 tonne per customer weight limit and on occasion, the dimensions of items which may not fit in vehicles. 

Complete the Small Isles Freight Service Form here

You can still notify us if you can't use the form

If you are not able to access the form, please contact our freight team by emailing smallislesfreight@calmac.co.uk or calling  01475 650 164 . This team can deal with shipment between Small Isles and Mallaig only. If you have a query about another location, please contact the relevant port of departure.

Please have the following details ready: 

• The island the freight is being delivered/collected 

• Name of person making freight notification

• Freight category - refer to freight list

• Freight item - refer to freight list

• Item quantity  

• Item dimensions 

• Item weight 

• Supplier name, if known

• Courier name, if known 

• Estimated expected delivery date 

• Any other additional details about freight item.  

Record of your notification

If you would like to save a copy of your form responses, please submit the form, then select the option to retrieve a copy to save as a PDF for your own records.

Complete the Small Isles Freight Service Form here

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages. 

Payments should be made prior to sailing, where possible. If you are not able to make payment at this time, the freight team will continue to try to contact you to help you to make payment. If you do not respond and do not make a payment within 4 weeks of your freight delivery, the freight team has the authority to stop accepting and delivering/ collecting your freight. Payment can be made in cash or by credit accounts.  

The guidance below provides the details you need to know on the distribution of your freight - from drop off to delivery and collection between Mallaig and Small Isles only.

Drop off 

• Freight must be dropped off at Mallaig port after 8am in winter and 7am in summer (8.30am on a Sunday) and at least one hour before shipment. Sailing times can be found on our timetable pages and you can contact our freight team during opening hours.

• By following the signage at Mallaig Port Office, you will be directed to the designated freight container where all freight should be delivered to. Deliveries must be checked in with member of staff one hour prior to shipment. 

• Please be aware that Caledonian MacBrayne is not liable for any items abandoned prior to staff being on duty or after hours. This may result in items not being shipped. We will notify the customer to advise the goods have been left unattended. 

• Should the delivery vehicles arrive at the port whilst staff are involved in other duties, it is not acceptable to off-load the goods into the store or leave at the doorway without a member of staff being present. Drivers should either wait or return at a more suitable time. 

Delivery/collection of freight 

Please follow the following guidance when delivering or collecting freight: 

• Freight team will provide acknowledgement of freight requests and detail of expected collection or delivery through email or phone. 

• The freight team will have the authority to reject freight items if: 

• the process has not been followed by the customer resulting in a backlog, 

• there is a backlog of freight items to be shipped and no storage capacity, 

• there is no physical space within freight vehicles to ship the item, 

• the customer's consignment exceeds a tonne.

• Our freight team will always endeavour to accommodate your collection and delivery of freight. 

• Items due to be collected by the freight team should be taken to the port to be collected when the freight team arrives, based on date and time arranged with the freight team. Pier staff will then log items on a manifest. 

Delivery Point 

• Once the vessel has reached her destination point, the freight assistant will drive the freight van off the vessel car deck and onto the island. Freight will be dropped off at the designated drop off area on each island. The pier area is the assigned drop off point for Muck, Rum, Canna and Eigg.

• On Eigg double call days Caledonian MacBrayne staff have the option to take the van to the Eigg shop, pending vehicle permit approval.

Ownership of deliveries  

• Where the goods are to be carried to a point beyond that of discharge from sea carriage, to be undertaken by Caledonian MacBrayne; we shall have no liability in respect of carriage beyond the point of discharge. In arranging any carriage beyond the point of discharge, we are acting only as an agent for the carrier(s) performing that carriage, whose own terms and conditions shall apply.

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages. 

A freight notification can be made using the Small Isles Freight Service Form which will submit your notification to the freight team automatically.

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages. 

If you are not able to access the Small Isles Freight Form, please contact the Small Isles freight team to notify them of this and send in your freight notification on smallislesfreight@calmac.co.uk or call  01475 650 164  with the following details: 

• The island the freight is being delivered/collected 

• Name of person making freight request 

• Freight category - refer to freight list

• Freight item - refer to freight list

• Item quantity  

• Item dimensions 

• Item weight 

• Supplier name, if known

• Courier name, if known 

• Estimated expected delivery date 

• Any other additional details about freight item.  

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages.

Please notify the Freight Team for items over 25kg or items under 25kg but over 1m in length as soon as you have ordered your freight, or at least 48 hours in advance, and 24 hours in advance for food goods freight arriving at Mallaig or being collected from a Small Isle.  

Please Complete the Small Isles Freight Service Form here to make the freight notification. 

This process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages. 

Please contact the freight team on smallislesfreight@calmac.co.uk or call 01475 650 164. The freight team will be available at the following days and times:

• Monday - Saturday 8am - 5pm, Sunday 8.30am-1pm during the Winter Timetable 

• Monday - Friday 7am - 6pm, Saturday 7am - 4pm and Sunday 8.30am - 2.30pm during the Summer timetable 

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages. 

No, we cannot take luggage on the freight service and customers are not able to use the Small Isles Freight Form to make a freight notification for the transportation of luggage.   

We will try to accommodate luggage on the day in the freight vans, where possible, but food goods and essential items must take priority. We are limited to car deck space and what vans we can put out to support the transportation of luggage.  

For more detail on baggage allowance please see the FAQ. 

Following the guidance supports the freight service and freight team and allows them to manage and plan your freight storage and shipment efficiently.  

If you are not following the freight service guidance, the freight team may need to reject your freight items in order to process those items that have been notified using the guidance. This means that on occasions when the guidance is not being followed, these items will not be delivered.  

The Small Isles freight team will be available to be contacted by email smallislesfreight@calmac.co.uk or on  01475 650164  and for freight drop offs on the following days: 

• Monday - Saturday 8am - 5pm, Sunday 8am-1pm during the Winter Timetable 

• Monday - Friday 7am - 6pm, Saturday 7am - 4pm and Sunday 8.30am - 2.30pm during the Summer Timetable 

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages.