The engine control problem that has been dogging the Coruisk this summer and resulted in it operating a reduced timetable has become worse, and the system has now completely failed. CalMac have no option at this stage but to take the ship out of operation.
It is not known how long it will take to fix, but it is likely to be a matter of days, not hours. All passengers booked for the Coruisk are being advised to travel via Lochaline, if space is not available on the Isle of Mull (which on most sailings, it isn’t). The small reserve vessel MV Loch Linnhe is being brought up to Lochaline to add capacity. She will shuttle as required.
This is another example of how the CalMac fleet is overstretched, over-age and we are paying the price. In addition, had the Pentalina entered service (rather than being deliberately obstructed by the trades unions) we would not be in this situation.
This will cause inconvenience and financial harm to many of us – but the CalMac staff will be feeling it too. Frontline CalMac staff will have lots of unhappy customers to deal with, but they will no doubt do it with their usual helpfulness, consideration and calm. Please be as considerate as you can be to all of our local CalMac employees. The cause of this problem lies elsewhere, and is ultimately for the Scottish Government to resolve. We will be writing to make that plain.