Saturday 8th – Loch Frisa broken down again **updated**

***Frisa fixed and service resuming with the 19:50 from Craignure***
*** scroll to the bottom for the latest email from CalMac ***

Again the Frisa is broken down, and there is no guarantee that it will be running again today. We’re pasting below for your information two emails. The first is from local CalMac operations management:

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Thank you for reaching out, please see below.

Further update regarding Mv Loch Frisa, repairs are currently progressing however we require additional time to complete therefore the next round trip- ex CRA 17:10 and ex OBA 18:30 will be cancelled. There will be a review at 18:00 for the last sailing.

Mv Clansman will operate the following to assist:

Depart Colonsay – 16:15

Arrive Craignure – 18:30

Depart Craignure- 18:45

Arrive Oban- 19:30

We are aware of the children that are in Oban without adult supervision, we are liaising with their parents/family since early afternoon and still unable to confirm exact numbers and ages that travelled through.

We have asked parent/family to travel on the 1830 Mv Clansman, as a precaution (car spaces are available if required by parents). We expect that last Mv Loch Frisa sailing to operate however it will remain on yellow alert. To add, if this sailing does not operate, we will require an adult to be able to support with accommodation etc, as we are unable to provide accommodation to children under 18 without an adult.

I will keep you informed with any further updates regarding the last sailing for Mv Loch Frisa.

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We have responded to this by insisting that Coastal Connections or some other private operator is chartered to ensure that people (particularly those without cars or children) can get home. We have also sent the email below to Duncan Mackison and all senior management at CalMac:

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I don’t like to say I told you so … but we did tell you, and it was said by more than one person on more than one occasion. There must be a contingency in place to at the minimum enable foot passengers to get to and from Oban if the Frisa is broken down, as it now has done again.

There are currently many people from Mull stuck in Oban, including lots of children. First the 13:10 and 15:50 were cancelled, with an update promised for 16:00. No update came until 16:36, and it was to announce further cancellations of the 17:10 and 18:30. The remaining sailings of the day are “liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.”  

It is totally unacceptable to leave people uncertain if they can return home or not, even as foot passengers. You must charter Coastal Connections now, or any other vessel that is available, to enable those without cars to return home.

Please can we get an urgent response to this from whomever in senior management is on duty to deal with this.

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The following email was recieved at 19:45, after it was confirmed that the Frisa was fixed and would resume service with the 19:50:

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To confirm, MV Loch Frisa repair has been successful, and vessel will operate the 1950 from Craignure (might be slightly delayed leaving to ensure a charter crew member manages to get on-board) and the 2135 from Oban.

We have ordered food for the passengers waiting including the children that are travelling unaccompanied and have been in contact with their parent too to pass on any updates.

Unfortunately, we believe only one parent was able to travel on the 1845 Mv Clansman therefore we have contacted Resilience team from Argyll and Bute council to liaise with an on-call social worker, as I have previously stated, we are unable to provide accommodation to children under the age of 18 as a contingency for the children and ensure safeguarding.

Vessel charters were also explored such as the Coastal Connection however they unfortunately had no crew/boats available as they are already providing a passenger charter in Iona. Staffa-tours were also contacted however they were unavailable at the time.