Mobile menu
26 February 2025
We want to let our customers know about changes to our services from February through to mid-May. While we move through the busy winter overhaul period, several challenging issues have emerged across the fleet in recent days – and we have had to review our vessel deployment and service plans. We want to give you a timely update on our plans to support services.
For services to/from Barra
The shared service with South Uist, operated by MV Isle of Mull while MV Isle of Lewis undergoes overhaul, is expected to continue up to and including 22 March 2025. MV Isle of Mull is currently operating with a reduced capacity while she awaits some scheduled replacement works to be completed.
We are currently exploring options for additional Sound of Barra sailings and any changes and updates for this route will be available on the service status page.
Customer bookings
Work is underway to update our booking system and timetables with these changes.
Current bookings and those made prior to the system being updated are subject to change and may be moved to a different vessel or sailing time. However, if your reservation is affected, we’ll be in contact with you as soon as we can, to let you know.
When work is taking place to update the booking system, amendments and new bookings for some sailings will be unavailable. This is temporary and will take place in phases, so please do check back later.
Further information on vessel deployment
MV Isle of Lewis – The vessel is delayed in overhaul due an emerging requirement for steel renewal. It is anticipated that the vessel will return to service by 23 March 2025.
MV Isle of Mull – the vessel is currently operating with reduced passenger capacity of 45 while she awaits replacement of her Marine Evacuation System which is scheduled to begin in May 2025, given her role in supporting services on the network – and is expected to take four weeks.
For the latest service status information
As is always the case, dates and details shared can change. If you are travelling on our services, please always check our service status information here on our website, or on the app for the very latest information on services to/from Barra.
Finally, thank you for your understanding as we manage our way through this exceptional set of circumstances where challenges with several vessels in the fleet have converged at the same time, affecting their availability and capacity. We do fully understand that the extension to the shared service is challenging – and we appreciate your patience. Throughout these major challenges, our focus remains on ensuring core services to all island communities.
Following the news that MV Caledonian Isles, which previously operated services between Ardrossan-Brodick, requires further repairs, we have planned for the vessel being unavailable for the duration for the winter timetable period.
Below, we have shared details of our updated vessel redeployment plans from 16 November through to the end of the winter timetable period on 27 March 2025. There are no changes to the service to/from Oban-Castlebay.
When MV Isle of Lewis heads for annual maintenance, MV Isle of Mull will operate a shared service with South Uist. This service is scheduled to run from 4 February to 3 March. MV Isle of Lewis is then due to pick up service from 4 March for the remainder of the winter timetable. Full details are available via our service changes pages.
As always, to stay up to date with the latest information on the service status of each route, please continue to check our Service Status and Information page for these routes, check the X (formerly Twitter) feed - @CalMac_Updates, and sign up for SMS text subscription services.
Again, we apologise for the inconvenience caused by having one of the large vessels on the fleet out of service for this period. The revised plans outlined above takes on board the feedback from customers and communities on how we manage this situation - and reflects our commitment to meeting demand and maintaining a lifeline service across the network.
Over the last few weeks, we have been managing a period of vessel redeployment around the network caused by major ongoing repairs to one of the vessels in the fleet - MV Caledonian Isles. This is occurring while annual vessel overhaul is underway - and we have had to redeploy vessel all around the network.
We want to share the latest information we have with you on how this will affect Barra services between Oban - Castlebay.
From Sunday 20 October, MV Isle of Mull will operate a combined Oban - Lochboisdale - Castlebay (Barra) service up to Friday 15 November.
As outlined above, the combined service ensures that during the period of extended repairs to one of our major vessels, MV Caledonian Isles, which has now run on into the winter overhaul period, we can preserve a service for both routes until at least Friday 15 November inclusive. Details can be viewed on the Service Status and Information page for this route.
If you have a booking for travel for the period above, we will contact you should your booking be affected. We are working through reservations in date order.
While work is underway to update the system, it may seem that some sailings are not available to book / amend. This is temporary. Please do check back.
MV Caledonian Isles - one of our major vessels on the network - is still undergoing unforeseen repairs. We anticipate that she will return to service by Wednesday 20 November, although the repairs are complex, and this date is subject to change. As this work has run into our winter overhaul period, it has meant a period of extended vessel redeployment around the network. The latest phase of this has meant implementation of a combined service for South Uist and Barra from 19 October - 15 November.
Again, we sincerely apologise to our customers and communities who are and have been affected by this disruption. Our focus remains on protecting services and minimising disruption across the network, with the vessels we have available.
Thank you for your continued patience while we do this.