As previously, here is the full text of the latest email from CalMac management:
I just wanted to provide an update on our latest plans as we hopefully work towards a more stable service however, as well as the ongoing challenge of vessel availability, we’re anticipating severe weather and sea conditions over the weekend based on current forecasts. This is likely to cause further disruption over the coming days.
We are working on a plan that would allow us to improve services on the Outer Hebrides, Coll, Tiree and Colonsay from the middle of next week.
Until then, our plan for Easter weekend is:
- MV Glen Sannox will, subject to successful trials, return to service on Troon-Brodick on the afternoon of Thursday 2 April
- MV Isle of Islay will remain on Kennacraig-Port Askaig
- Current deployment plans will remain unchanged
We do not expect to be able to move vessels sooner due to the weather. From Tuesday, should weather improve, we intend to send MV Glen Sannox to Oban-Castlebay to carry out berthing trials and, subject to these being successful, putting her in service for Barra. We will also redeploy MV Isle of Islay to the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy route.
This will allow us to:
- End the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy/Castlebay shared service and restore services on Barra and the Little Minch to what they were planned to be
- Redeploy MV Clansman to Oban-Coll/Tiree/Colonsay, which she is much better suited to than the currently deployed MV Isle of Mull
- Redeploy MV Isle of Mull to Oban-Craignure and enhance services on that route
It does mean that Islay will be a single-vessel service with MV Finlaggan, and Arran will be a single-vessel service with MV Caledonian Isles until MV Alfred returns from overhaul to operate Troon-Brodick.
It also assumes MV Isle of Arran and MV Lord of the Isles, our two major vessels currently off with technical issues, remain unavailable.
This deployment plan would remain under review, and would be in place until MV Hebrides returns to service from planned annual maintenance, which is scheduled for Wednesday 15 April
We’re working today to confirm details of this potential deployment plan and will share full, detailed information tomorrow.