CalMac publishes revised winter deployment plan

CalMac has published a revised winter deployment plan in light of a delay to MV Caledonian Isles return to service.

With the large vessel expected to be out of service until the end of March, when the winter timetable ends, CalMac has amended plans to meet the needs of island communities across the west coast.

Several key requests from different communities on the west coast have been delivered in the revised plan. This includes:

The extension of the Claonaig-Lochranza service on Arran

A weekly return directly to Lochboisdale on South Uist from Oban

Confirming all sailings to Colonsay on a Monday in December and January will operate, with those at risk in February and March to be reviewed later.

A CalMac spokesperson said: "Whilst this is a challenging period, our revised deployment plan reflects our efforts to take on board the wide range of feedback we received from islanders and businesses and should allow us to maintain lifeline services and meet demand across all routes on the network.

"All islands will maintain a direct service under this plan, and we are committed to supporting local communities throughout this period of disruption."

NOTES TO EDITORS

Key information on notable routes:

All Colonsay sailings from 16 November through to the end of the year have at least half their deck space still available to book

All sailings to Mull, which will operate single vessel for longer in winter, have at least 15% of car deck space available from 16 Nov until 24 Nov. This increases to at least 30% from 25 Nov until the end of the year

The average available daily deck space on sailings off Uist from 16-30 November is 45%. Sailings to Uist is 36%

Annual maintenance schedule of major vessels:

Vessel in overhaul	Dates
MV Loch Seaforth	Planned return to service 15 November
MV Lord of the Isles	7 November to 28 November
MV Isle of Mull	15 November to 28 December
MV Clansman	6 January to 17 January
MV Isle of Lewis	4 February to 28 February
MV Alfred	10 February to 17 February
MV Hebrides	24 February to 20 March
MV Finlaggan	24 April to 12 May

Deployment plan and service impact:

Island (Routes)	Vessel	Service Impact
Arran (Ardrossan-Brodick)	MV Isle of Arran	Published TT from 23 Oct until 27 March, reduced capacity
Arran (Troon-Brodick)	MV Alfred	Extend current TT until 9 Feb No service 10-17 Feb due to overhaul Current timetable 18 Feb to 5 Mar
Islay (Kennacraig - Port Ellen / Port Askaig)	MV Finlaggan	Published TT, single vessel until 27 March
Mull (Oban-Craignure)	MV Loch Frisa single vessel (SV) from 6 Nov until 30 Nov	As previously published and MV Clansman operates additional AM roundtrip on Wed & Fri throughout winter
	MV Loch Frisa SV from 1 Dec until 7 March	Reduced capacity, reviewing options for additional AM Wed and Fri 31 Dec - 4 Jan MV Isle of Mull operates two vessel service with MV Loch Frisa
	MV Isle of Mull SV from 8 March	As per timetable
Barra (Oban -Castlebay)	MV Isle of Lewis from 16 Nov until 1 Feb	Normal published TT
	MV Isle of Mull operating a combined CAS/LBO-Oban from 2 Feb until 3 Mar	As published
	MV Isle of Lewis from 4 Mar	As published
Coll, Tiree & Colonsay (Oban-Coll / Tiree / Colonsay)	MV Clansman until 4 Jan	As published Minor amendment on Thu 21 Nov and Thu 28 Nov to allow MV Clansman to operate a South Uist return
	MV Lord of the Isles 5 Jan to 22 Mar	As published
	Risk of Colonsay Monday service	Service as published but at risk of cancellation on 10,17,24 Feb and 3 Mar - to be reviewed in January
South Uist (Lochboisdale-Oban/Mallaig)	No vessel available 16 to 30 Nov	Service reduced to Lochboisdale with one weekly return on Thursdays Additional Lochmaddy sailings will operate via Uig Additional Sound of Barra sailings will operate aligned to the Oban-Castlebay service
South Uist (Lochboisdale-Oban/Mallaig)	MV Lord of the Isles 01 Dec to 4 Jan	As published
	MV Isle of Mull 4 Jan until 1 Feb	As published
	MV Isle of Mull operating a combined CAS/LBO-Oban from 2 Feb until 3 Mar	As published
	MV Isle of Mull 4 Mar until 7 Mar	Timetable as published but with change of vessel
	No vessel available 8 to 22 Mar	Service liable to disruption or cancellation To be reviewed and confirmed in January
	MV Lord of the Isles from 23 March	As published
Harris & North Uist (Uig/Tarbert/ Lochmaddy)	MV Hebrides 16 to 30 Nov	Services amended to offer additional service to Lochmaddy with reduction of Tarbert sailings
	MV Hebrides 1 Dec to 22 Feb	As published
	MV Clansman from 23 Feb until 22 Mar	As published
	MV Clansman from 8 to 22 Mar	Services amended to offer additional service to Lochmaddy with reduction of Tarbert sailings
	MV Hebrides from 24 Mar	As published
Lewis (Ullapool-Stornoway)	MV Loch Seaforth	MV Loch Seaforth from 14 Nov as published TT