Ferry falters but recovers quickly at start of May holiday weekend
There was widespread alarm followed by relief as sailings to Arran were cancelled and then re-instated on Saturday morning at the start of the May bank holiday weekend.
The issues began with MV Isle of Arran developing a gearbox fault which saw CalMac announcing all sailings on the vessel would be cancelled until midday.
The breakdown also impacted MV Alfred sailings as the linkspan at Troon was being used by MV Isle of Arran which was immobile.
In a service status update, CalMac announced the cancellation of the 9.45am and 12.30pm sailings from
Ardrossan and the 8.20am, 11.05am and 1.55pm sailings from Brodick, and signalled its intention to operate MV Alfred as a passenger-only service.
With an expected increase in traffic numbers and the limited capacity offered at the start of the busy May bank holiday, there were fears about visitors making it to the island, particularly as there were a number of large events taking place over the extended weekend.
After the initial cancellations, travellers were relieved to hear the technical issues with MV Isle of Arran were resolved with the vessel departing Troon at 9.50am to pick up service for the 11.05am departing from Brodick.
This saw the 11.05am from Brodick and the 12.30pm sailings from Ardrossan re-instated. The 12.30pm sailing, however, was slightly delayed owing to a minor fire at Ardrossan ferry terminal when an overhead heater caught fire requiring the services of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
All services for the remainder of the long weekend continued without incident and sailings at the north end of the island – where the Arran Rock and Blues festival was taking place – remained unaffected.