Achi news desk-
The ferry operator had warned in February of disruption across the Clyde and Hebrides network as a result of steelwork problems with the 31-year-old ferry which serves the Arran route, one of the busiest on the Scottish coast, and expect her to be. replace
It has been out of action since going to be overhauled at the beginning of January and the hope in the last update was that it would be back by July to help with the busy summer period.
But the Herald understands that consumer groups who have been pressing for back-up plans have now discovered that the ship will not return until sometime at the end of August at the earliest.
They have been told that the repair plan shows that there is still a lot of work to be done.
It is understood that no contingency plans have yet been agreed to deal with the further disruption.
It was sidelined for over three months with more steelwork and engine problems this time last year with repairs estimated at the time at £1m. It had been due to leave the yard after an overhaul before engineers identified problems with the engines, steelwork and bearings.
Further steelwork problems were attributed to a further period spent at the yard in early 2022.
It was found that the ship had major technical problems during the renovation work again this year and it was not originally expected to return until at least the end of next March.
Users had been told that the vessel needed “extensive steelwork” leading to concerns that it was suffering from rust problems.
A ferry user group official said the latest development was “yet another in a long line of disasters” to hit the west coast ferry fleet.
“If this is correct, then this unholy mess of a service just got a whole lot messier and CalMac and the Scottish Government need to find some sort of solution to this ongoing durability issue in the short term,” he said. It is now one of three ferries that have been sidelined.
It has emerged that the 29-year-old MV Isle of Lewis has been put out of action after issues came to light on Sunday.
It is moored at Greenock for bow visor repairs.
The development has disrupted services to and from the besieged island of South Uist.
One of the oldest ships in CalMac’s aging fleet, the 37-year-old MV Isle of Mull, has been drafted in to operate a two-island rush schedule until Friday to and from Barra and Lochboisdale, South Uist’s main port. It had already been moved from the Mull service to operate to and from South Uist until May 10 due to network problems.
CalMac, which is owned by the Scottish Government, has told users that the preparation of a full and permanent repair plan is underway and once completed they will be able to define the estimated duration of repairs.
MV Isle of Lewis joined MV Loch Shira and MV Caledonian Isles on the sidelines as delays to the ferry company’s annual refurbishment program led to disruption across the Clyde and Hebrides network.
CalMac had been running trials using the MV Isle of Mull to and from Uig, part of the Skye Triangle route, serving Uist and Harris. But they discovered that the boats would not be able to provide a regularly scheduled service there.
CalMac was forced to pull the MV Loch Shira off one of its busiest routes on April 5 because it was damaged by heavy vehicles and was expected to be sidelined for months.
The vessel, which normally operates on the Largs to Cumbrae route, entered dry dock for repairs and is not expected to return until mid-June at the earliest.
The MV Loch Riddon had been operating a single vessel service leaving customers facing increased waiting times.
CalMac had relocated the oldest ferry in its fleet – MV Isle of Cumbrae – as the second support vessel on the route until another vessel could take over.
The ferry operator has warned users that, until further notice due to smaller boats operating on the route, the number of vehicles has been reduced and queues are expected.
This comes as CalMac’s expenditure on the maintenance of the aging ferry fleet has more than tripled in five and a half years.
Details from the state-owned ferry company show that around £16m had to be spent over the period on the unexpected repairs.
While an average of £147,377 a month was spent on the CalMac fleet almost six years ago the bill has risen to £481,310 now.
Concerns have been raised that around £3,850,483 has been spent on unplanned ferry maintenance in the first eight months of 2023/24 – which is already the highest since CalMac started tracking the expenditure.
It represents an increase of more than £800,000 on the bill for the whole of 2022/23.
Meanwhile, the new ferries Glen Sannox and sister ship Glen Rosa, which were due to come online in the first half of 2018, are now both due to serve Arran, at least six years late, and the costs are expected to be four times the original contract of £97m.
CalMac acting chief executive Duncan Mackison said: “In the last week, we have been informed that the scope of the repairs will take much longer than expected.
“We know this news is disappointing, especially for the people of Arran, which is normally served by the ship. We announced a revised summer schedule when we knew that MV Caledonian Isles would not be available for a significant period of time. That timetable will remain in place until it is ready to return, although we will continue to explore what we can do to support the service on that route.
“The scope of work provided in February was indicative and subject to change based on a full analysis of the ship’s repair needs. The nature of the ship’s structure means that this analysis has been ongoing alongside repair work. This is an extremely complex repair effort where we have to be aware of the age and condition of the vessel.
“As part of the work, the auxiliary engines and their bedplates were removed from the ship to allow access to the double bottom water ballast tanks. The structure under the main engines is being supported using hydraulic jacks, while the steel around these engines is being renewed. The main engines will need to be lifted off their bedplates to allow access under the engines to renew the steel on top of the tank directly below the sump.
“With our partners, we exhausted all possible avenues to avoid removing the engines, but this was the only way to complete the work to the required standard.
“Our aim is to get the vessel back into service as quickly as possible, and in that spirit we are in regular contact with the dry dock operator, who is working around the clock to complete these repairs quickly. We will continue to liaise with the Arran Ferry Committee and other local stakeholders on the vessel’s progress.”
Scottish Conservative Member of Parliament for the West of Scotland, Jamie Greene, said: “This is yet another hammer blow to the residents of Arran who have suffered more than anyone due to the SNP ferry scandal.
“The impact this has on tourism, the wider economy of the island and the quality of life of the residents of Arran is devastating.
“Scotland’s isolated communities continue to be betrayed by the SNP’s stunning incompetence. While senior officials at Ferguson Marine and CalMac have carried the can and lost their jobs, it is disgraceful that we still haven’t had a single ministerial resignation.”
A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We recognize the impact that delays and disruptions have on our isolated communities and this government is committed to investing in our ferry services.
“The delay regarding the MV Caledonian Isles is regrettable and we expect CalMac to be working with the experts in the field to ensure that work proceeds quickly. The Transport Secretary has previously spoken to CalMac to stress that everything must be done to address capacity and provide reassurance to the Arran community as we approach the summer.
“From the start of the summer schedule, 29 March, the MV Alfred has also been operating from Troon. CalMac ensured, over the Easter holidays, that the MV Alfred was operating at its full passenger capacity of 428 rather than the current 230, and will continue to engage with Pentland Ferries on this for the coming summer. We expect CalMac to engage with communities and key stakeholders throughout this period of disruption.
“The introduction of six new large ships to serve Scotland’s ferry network by 2026 is a priority. We have invested more than £2 billion in our ferry services since 2007 and have outlined plans to invest around £700 million in a five-year plan to improve ferry infrastructure.”
