'Unwelcome' impact if CalMac moves Glen Sannox ferry from Arran to Western Isles

Glen Sannox entered service on the Troon-Brodick in January last year - six-and-a-half years late - and has since spent more than quarter of its operational life out of action for major repairs and an annual refit.

The vessel has been welcomed for its enhanced passenger comfort and greater seagoing resilience compared to other ferries on sailings to Arran’s main settlement.

However, CalMac is now considering switching Glen Sannox to the Skye-Harris-North Uist routes from the end of this month to cover for other vessels out of service.

Planning for this also means the ferry’s return to the Arran route after four months in dry dock has been delayed yet again until at least another week.

Glen Sannox was due back on Friday but the ship will not now return until at least next Thursday while it undergoes trials in the Western Isles from Monday.

CalMac said the potential redeployment was being considered because it had further extended the charter of the Pentland Ferries’ catamaran Alfred, which has helped to operate the Troon-Brodick route for the last three years.

However, it said there would be no service on the route between Monday and Wednesday next week while Alfred goes for its annual overhaul for three weeks.

Any redeployment is likely to start at the beginning of CalMac’s summer timetable on March 27.

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Meantime, on the Ardrossan-Brodick route, main ferry Caledonian Isles has been substituted with the smaller Isle of Arran vessel until at least Wednesday.

This is because Caledonian Isles has been out of action with a propulsion system since last weekend.

The ferry returned to service in September after an unprecedented 20 months of prolonged repairs.

A CalMac spokesperson said: “Glen Sannox is planned to carry out trials on the Little Minch route when she completes testing following overhaul, and could be deployed there given Alfred is staying with us.

“Were the Sannox to be deployed on that route, she would free up Clansman, which is relieving Hebrides - whose estimated completion [of work] in dry dock is April 13 - to operate elsewhere.”

The official Arran Ferry Committee, which represents passengers, was not happy at the move.

Secretary Bill Calderwood said: “We have been informed of these plans, however this must be in conjunction with a reliable service from Ardrossan.

“We will once again be reduced to a single vessel service from Ardrossan for several days, which is unwelcome.

“The island needs a period of resilience and services which meet the customers demands for both capacity and timetables that allows us to efficiently attend appointments and attract visitors with a higher degree of certainty that we currently experience.

“We will be interested to hear the results of the trials and hope we will be included in negotiations when the full plans are being discussed.

“Whilst we understand that the Alfred offers an option, it is always at the expense of the operator’s aims for an improved customer experience travelling to Arran.”

Mr Calderwood said Alfred had inferior facilities compared to other ferries on the routes, such as no catering or wi-fi, which “most customers now see as a part of their travel experience”.

He said: “Alfred has been a major resource and much appreciated, but moving into summer, it is something that could be improved.”