CalMac Expects Normal Service on Five Islands After Ferry Repairs

CalMac expects normal service to resume on multiple west coast routes after weeks of disruption as the ferry MV Hebrides returns from repairs.

Engineers repaired a leak in the vessel's bow visor, the front section that raises to load and unload vehicles. The ferry is due back on the Little Minch later this week.

CalMac said planned service levels and usual vessels will be in place by the end of the week on routes to Coll, Colonsay, Mull, South Uist and Tiree.

In April, 10 of CalMac's 32 ferries were out of service due to technical faults, annual overhauls or crewing problems. The disruptions drew attention during political campaigning before last week's Scottish election.

MV Hebrides is scheduled to operate on the Little Minch, linking Skye, Harris and North Uist, starting Wednesday afternoon.

Chief executive Duncan Mackison said: "The return of MV Hebrides gets us back to a welcome stable service across the routes served by major vessels and allows us to restore planned service levels to five islands."

"This includes an increase in capacity and resilience to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay, greater capacity on Mull and the restoration of a direct service to South Uist."

Mackison called the past few weeks immensely challenging. He thanked staff for their hard work and island communities for their understanding.

Two more major vessels, MV Isle of Lewis and MV Finlaggan, are due back from planned overhauls this month.