Islay ferry bookings close for ‘days’ in overhaul crisis

“The situation we are facing is worse than most of us can remember,” Islay Community Council Ferry Committee (ICCFC) told CalMac, and Argyll and Bute’s MSP Jenni Minto, on Monday, writes Sandy Neil.

Due to delays in CalMac’s annual overhaul programme and knock-on effects to vessel deployment, there is a further delay to MV Finlaggan’s dry-docking. As a result, this week CalMac restricted bookings on Islay to Kennacraig services up to Tuesday May 2.

“The summer timetable, effective March 31, was for two vessels, MV Finlaggan and MV Hebridean Isles with 66 sailings per week,” ICCFC explained. “The single vessel timetable provides only 38 sailings along with a major reduction in capacity.

“The financial loss to businesses and community at such an important time of year will potentially be immense - we know that accommodation bookings are already being cancelled due to inability to book ferry space.

“It is currently not possible to make any bookings to/ from Islay up to the end of this month. We understand port staff will be transferring all the bookings taken for two vessels to only one and that this will take a number of days.

“So effectively Islay is closed for any new bookings for the duration, and again this will be hitting people in the pocket and adding to reputational damage.

“Although MV Alfred may be able to provide some temporary relief much later in the month, port compatibility and transit times are unlikely to enable a comparable solution to the two vessel service that should currently be in operation.”

Robert Morrison, CalMac’s operations director, said: “We have taken the decision to delay the start of MV Finlaggan’s overhaul due to the ongoing disruption on the network.

“A single vessel timetable will operate on our Islay service until April 13. We are working towards a two-vessel service from April 14 onwards, with a full return to normal summer timetable expected to resume from May 28.

“Our systems for sailings up to and including May 2 are currently being updated and the timetable for this period will be available on our website shortly. We are in the process of contacting and supporting affected customers and apologise for the disruption this is causing, particularly at the start of the tourist season.”