As with our previous post, here is the full text of CalMac’s email to us this afternoon:
Good afternoon, I now have a further update for you all regarding current Network issues. Please see below update:
We are continuing to work hard to support services and get vessels with issues back up and running. I am writing to you to share an update on these vessels and the impact of these on service.
MV Isle of Islay
The crew have resolved more snagging issues and identified a suspected root cause of the intermittent issue with the power management system. Troubleshooting and sea trials are scheduled to continue today and tomorrow. To provide certainty to customers travelling early next week, we will continue with a single-vessel MV Finlaggan timetable on Monday 30 and Tuesday 31 March. We are hopeful that, subject to further trials, MV Isle of Islay may be able to begin a phased entry to service on Monday and carry out additional sailings alongside MV Finlaggan. Due to ongoing trials, we will only be able to confirm this on Sunday 29 March.
MV Glen Sannox
MV Glen Sannox returned to service yesterday afternoon but the same issue with the exhaust bellows re-occurred on her second sailing following repairs.
Sailings are cancelled today, and will be cancelled on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to allow a full and thorough investigation and establish a root cause of it. As part of this, the crew will inspect the exhaust system all the way from base to funnel. As part of this work, the vessel may also carry out sea trials over the weekend. We’re taking the time to permanently resolve this issue with a view to ensuring MV Glen Sannox returns next week and there’s a level of confidence that the issue is resolved and she will remain in service ahead of and throughout Easter weekend and holidays.
MV Isle of Arran
She remains off service with an issue with her fire suppression system. An engineer from the system provider is due onboard this afternoon. Whilst she has been off service, we’ve found damaged couplings on the bow thruster and requirement to source spares and carry out repairs to this mean sailings operated by MV Isle of Arran are cancelled up to and including Sunday 29 March. The combination of wind direction and bow thruster issue means MV Isle of Arran cannot move off her berth at Oban, and we’re taking steps to manage other services getting in and out of the other berth as quickly and safely as possible. Sailings operated by MV Isle of Arran today are cancelled and at risk tomorrow.
MV Caledonian Isles & MV Coruisk
Both vessels have had their technical issues resolved and returned to service on Ardrossan-Brodick and Oban-Craignure respectively.
Finally, we stood up an incident management team yesterday and they will be on hand this evening and throughout the weekend to support local teams in managing services and vessel repairs. We will provide a further update on vessels and services by 1730 this evening.
Once again, I apologise for the ongoing disruption.
Much as we islanders are disappointed it must be truly dispiriting for the CalMac staff. Lets all try to be polite