CalMac have today confirmed what we have been hoping for a long time – that earlier plans to retire the MV Isle of Mull at the end of this year have been cancelled. Instead, the IOM will remain in the fleet until new-build vessels are delivered – currently estimated to be 2031. In order to help her last until then (by which time she will be 42) the ship will be benefitting from “significant investment works intended to maintain the vessel’s reliability and resilience”.
We had firmly argued against the deployment of the Caledonian Isles (and other vessels) to the Craignure – Oban route, because of longer turn-around times, poor PAS fit (in Oban as well as Craignure) and reduced vehicle capacities. Our fear was that having spent around £12 million renewing large parts of the Caledonian Isles’ hull (and associated works) in 2024/25, CalMac and Transport Scotland would have been keen to keep her in operation by moving her to Mull. Instead, the Cale Isles will be disposed of (sold if a buyer can be found, scrapped if not), along with the Isle of Arran and Isle of Lewis.
The full CalMac paper regarding all of this can be read below.