As indicated by the silly AI image, we have some good news. It’s confirmed that from Monday, ‘normal’ summer service will finally start with the return of the Isle of Mull to work alongside the Frisa. Unless new catastrophes occurr, that is how things will remain for the rest of the summer. Below is the full message from CalMac:
I am pleased to be able to report that MV Hebrides is scheduled to return to service on Sunday 19 April, and MV Lord of the Isles on Monday 20 April. As you know, the return of MV Hebrides triggers a cascade of vessels which allows us to return MV Isle of Mull to Oban-Craignure.
We can now confirm network-wide deployment through until 17 May, which is the working date for MV Finlaggan’s overhaul to complete (26 April – 17 May is her planned time off service).
From Monday 20 April, your normal summer timetable will be in place with MV Isle of Mull and MV Loch Frisa operating on the run. We are not planning for any further changes to Mull’s main service throughout summer.
Our booking system will be updated on all routes to reflect planned deployments as per the table I have shared below.
| Route | Dates | Deployment | Service change vs. Planned service |
| Ardrossan/Troon – Brodick | 17 April – 17 May | MV Caledonian Isles MV Alfred | Change in vessel – MV Alfred from MV Glen Sannox, slightly reduce capacity and amended timetable |
| Kennacraig – Islay | 18 – 20 April 21 April – 26 April 26 April – 17 May | No change MV Finlaggan MV Isle of Islay MV Isle of Islay MV Lord of the Isles | Reduction to single-vessel service As planned Amended: MV Lord of the Isles in place of MV Isle of Arran |
| Oban – Castlebay | 18 –20 April (AM) 20 April (PM) – 17 May | MV Isle of Islay MV Glen Sannox (subject to trials) | Change from MV Isle of Lewis throughout, but operating to same timetable |
| Oban – Craignure | 18 – 19 April 20 April – 17 May | MV Coruisk MV Loch Frisa MV Isle of Mull MV Loch Frisa | Reduced service As planned |
| Mallaig – Lochboisdale | 18 April – 17 May | No vessel available – service cancelled | Should have been MV Lord of the Isles |
| Little Minch | 19 April From 19 April | Amended with MV Clansman and MV Hebrides MV Hebrides | As planned during overhaul As planned |
| Oban – Coll/Tiree/Colonsay | Until 19 April From 20 April | MV Isle of Mull MV Clansman | Amended timetable As planned |
| Ullapool – Stornoway | Until 19 April From 20 April | MV Loch Seaforth MV Glen Sannox MV Loch Seaforth | Sannox helping clear backlog and providing additional services As planned |
This deployment plan does not include MV Isle of Arran. We were quoted 17 weeks for the timeline to manufacture the couplings required for the bow thruster. Given how long this is, we went to other suppliers and have now ordered the couplings from one who has advised of 3-4 weeks. To provide certainty to customers, we’ve not put MV Isle of Arran in the system but we’re expecting her back in mid-May.
Everyone at CalMac is conscious of how disruptive the past few weeks have been, but we’re now cautiously optimistic that we are through the worst of this unprecedented situation and are able to provide virtually normal services on most routes. I also know this been particularly severe on Mull with a single-vessel MV Coruisk service for a long time. I am really sorry once again for the impact this challenging period has had on your community.