2 months ago
21
Christopher Brindle
MV Lord of the Isles has been forced out of action for the second time in just over a week
An engine fault has put another of CalMac's major vessels out of action despite hopes that the worst of the west coast ferry operator's recent difficulties were over.
MV Lord of the Isles was pulled from the Oban-Barra route after a problem with its starboard engine, and will remain out on Wednesday as well, while the main Arran ferry MV Glen Sannox remains sidelined.
Glen Sannox has been hit by a series of faults since returning from an extended annual overhaul in Merseyside in March.
It had returned to service last week after the latest repairs to its exhaust system but was withdrawn again on Monday, affecting the busy Troon to Brodick route.
A shuttle bus service will run between Troon and Ardrossan instead, where MV Caledonian Isles is running.
MV Lord of the Isles only returned at the weekend after problems with its main engine put it out of action last week.
However an "ongoing technical issue" with the ship's starboard main engine means an amended timetable - using the MV Isle of Mull - will run through to the end of Wednesday.
CalMac's west of Scotland network has been under sustained pressure in recent weeks, with many ferries under maintenance and others facing unplanned repairs.
A reoccurring technical issue with the vessel's fuel pump on the port main engine has been blamed for the latest problems with the Glen Sannox.
The chartered catamaran MV Alfred is expected back from overhaul to pick up the Troon to Arran route from Wednesday onwards, with CalMac originally planning to reposition Glen Sannox for sailings between Barra and Oban.
PA Media
The MV Glen Sannox only returned to service last week
The state-owned operator last month said that there was an "unprecedented" shortage of vessels due to technical faults.
CalMac has been forced to reposition multiple vessels on its island routes and said plans were "under constant review".
Glen Sannox , the first LNG dual fuel ferry every built in the UK, began serving the Isle of Arran in January 2025, when it came into service seven years late and four times over budget.
The 336ft (102m) vessel, with space for 127 cars and 852 passengers, was the first major new ferry to join the CalMac fleet in a decade.
