Newest CalMac ferry branded 'lame duck' after latest in series of faults cuts car space by 20%
Reduction in capacity from broken mezzanine decks bigger than thought
CalMac's newest ferry has been labelled a "lame duck" by islanders after the latest of a series of faults significantly reduced vehicle space with drivers being turned away at the height of the tourist season.
The problem has put Isle of Islay’s two mezzanine decks out of action, cutting its 100-car capacity by 21-22 spaces - or more than a fifth, The Scotsman has learned.
CalMac had said two weeks ago that it would affect “seven to eight cars per sailing” - but that was just those already booked.
The newest setback, just four months after the ferry entered service, follows drivers having to reverse on or off the vessel while its clam doors were broken.
That fault, which was fixed last week, occurred days after the vessel returned from two weeks of repairs to a bow vehicle ramp, which had also required vehicles to reverse.
Isle of Islay, which operates between Port Askaig on the island and Kennacraig in Kintyre, arrived in Scotland in February from the Turkish shipyard where it was built more than a year late because of delays to parts due to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Its voyage took twice as long as planned due to storms and a rescue.
In a statement issued to passengers, CalMac said: “Due to a technical issue with the mezzanine decks on Isle of Islay, vehicle capacity will be reduced until further notice.
“An update regarding repairs will be provided as soon as possible.”
Islay Ferry Committee, which represents passengers, said it should have been informed sooner.
Spokesperson Jim Porteous said: “Right now, the vessel is something of a lame duck, only able to load/unload via the stern [until last week] and with the mezzanine decks not working, with no idea of when they will be repaired.
“It has caused some refusal of vehicle bookings during a peak period.
“The committee should have been informed of any such decision at the time, in which case it would have insisted that the port operators increased the marshalling capacity to enable the full capacity of the new vessel to be used.”
A CalMac spokesperson said: “The mezzanine decks on Isle of Islay were in service up until mid-July, when the vessel came off service for her bow ramp to be repaired.
“There is a statutory requirement to carry out thorough examinations of the mezzanine decks every six months.
“These were undertaken during the vessel’s recent docking and issues were identified with them.
“We’re now liaising with the manufacturer to create a repair plan and bring them back into service.
“Some mezzanine deck capacity was not bookable on our system when Isle of Islay came into service to ensure safe marshalling of vehicle traffic at Port Askaig.”
Doubts remain over when three similar CalMac ferries also being built by Cemre in Yalova will be completed amid fears for the future of the yard.
The Scottish Government’s ferry-buying firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited announced in June it had taken ownership of Loch Indaal, Lochmor and Claymore by paying the remaining £23 million of the contract so they could be finished elsewhere if necessary.
It also indicated delivery would be delayed, with Loch Indaal due to have been completed last month.
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