Demand for bigger ferry during Arran disruption as Scottish islanders hit by 'very disturbing outlook'

The demand came as the official Arran Ferry Committee highlighted that further changes to sailings to Brodick over the winter would follow nearly two years of disruption triggered by ongoing repairs to Caledonian Isles.

Its fears centre on a week-long suspension of sailings from Troon from September 8 for maintenance of the linkspan, which enables vehicles to drive on and off ferries.

Services will be switched to Ardrossan until September 14, when only a single vessel - Isle of Arran - will operate to Brodick with only half the normal car-carrying capacity.

Arran Ferry Committee secretary Bill Calderwood said: “We have been challenging CalMac to get a larger vessel deployed and they say the allocation of the Isle of Arran should meet demand.”

He said the difficulties faced by islanders booking vehicle spaces “shows a very disturbing outlook”.

Mr Calderwood said only one sailing departing Ardrossan during the Arran closure was available to book, along with only three sailings departing Brodick.

He said: “With two weeks to go, a community of around 4,500 people cannot book a day trip using a vehicle to travel to the Central Belt for a week. No intending visitors can book new travel, and businesses are limited to what they have pre-booked.

“We urgently ask CalMac what is being considered and what assistance is needed to support the quality of life for our residents and allow the islands economy to be sustainable and avoid further reputational damage.

“Arran has no air option, unlike some other communities. No other route has been so significantly disrupted consistently for more than 20 months, and the reductions continue. We have asked CalMac senior management for face-to-face meetings and still await a date being provided.”

Meantime, CalMac’s winter timetable from October 20, which was published on Tuesday, showed Brodick sailings will be reduced to a single vessel from Troon until October 25. Sailings from Ardrossan will only run from November 3-21.

A CalMac spokeswoman said: “The temporary closure of Troon in September for planned maintenance has meant we have had to move vessels around the network around to maintain a service to and from Brodick.

“This includes returning Isle of Arran to Ardrossan, but we understand that this will be a single vessel service to Brodick and that sailings on this route will be constrained during this week. With the vessels currently available to us, we do have difficult decisions to make regarding deployment.

“Other large vessels are unable to cover this route during the closure. Local port teams are monitoring booking volumes, and we will continue to advise passengers who have not yet booked to check the CalMac website regularly.

“Our urgent medical protocol remains in place and guarantees a space onboard for anyone who needs to travel for an urgent appointment.”

CalMac said a secondary route to Lochranza on Arran was available with at least seven return sailings per day with the ferry able to take 21 cars and 150 foot passengers. However, the link from Claonaig in Kintyre involves a very detour from the Central Belt.

Extending the route into the winter is being considered.

The spokesperson said the number of planned vessel overhaul days has increased to 768 from 693 last year - “an increase of 10.8 per cent and reflecting the extra time needed to maintain our older vessels and reduce the risk of unplanned disruption”.

CalMac said Isle of Islay, the first of four ferries being built in Turkey, was expected to enter service between October and December - a year late - followed by Loch Indaal six months later, which would “bolster the resilience of the network for the future”.

However, Jim Porteous of the Islay Community Council Ferry Committee, said a six-week reduction in the number of ferries serving the Islay route from September 6 was a “very bad situation” considering the need for larger vessels was recognised with the ordering of the two ferries from Turkey.

He said: “Removal of a timetabled vessel will further reduce confidence in an already struggling service and will cause financial hardship for many.”