SCOTLAND’S busiest ferry crossing has ground to a halt for safety reasons in a move that could lead to six weeks of disruption over a busy school holiday period.
As reported by The National's sister paper The Herald, as of this morning fifteen sailings between Brodick, on the Isle of Arran, and Ardrossan had been cancelled since Sunday.
The first of tomorrow's sailings have already been dropped as a result of a reported fault with the aging MV Caledonian Isles' mooring equipment.
On Tuesday there were no sailings at all during the day, with the first seven journeys cancelled. Only the 4.40pm crossing from Brodick and another return to the island were able to operate, as CalMac said it needed to berth on the island overnight.
Aside from tomorrow's already cancelled sailings, there is no news of any further crossings expected till after a 10am review. Travellers are being warned that all services are liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.
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CalMac said that the issue is with the mooring winch gearbox, which means the ferry is "unable to safely berth during periods of adverse weather".
Repairs are expected to take six weeks.
On top of that, a fault with both mezzanine decks means the 1000 passenger and 110 car capacity of the vessel will be cut until repairs can be carried out.
The latest calamity to hit the vessel has angered islanders who have demanded a long overdue temporary replacement to allow vital supplies and drugs to reach Arran.
Gavin Fulton, chairman of Arran's ferry action group, said the latest calamity is the latest in a long line of issues with the aging ferry.
He told The Herald: "Things are going from bad to worse for us and there is no contingency plan. There is no word of chartering a boat, or to buy one abroad. It is a case of waiting 18 months for a new ferry and we have to put up with it. It is absolutely dreadful, an absolute shambles.
"Patients on the island are spending three, four or five days on the mainland, just to get to a hospital appointment.
"All we get is silence. The boats are old, they are breaking down all the time and it can only get worse.
"We don't need a perfect boat. We just need a boat, with a motor, that runs. We are not looking for a cruise liner.
"It wouldn't matter if it was a landing craft, as long as the truck with the food and the delivery van with the drugs can get on and off the island, and a few passengers can make it for their appointments."
CalMac’s director of operations, Robert Morrison said: "An issue with the MV Caledonian isles mooring gearbox is likely to restrict her ability to berth in certain weather conditions which will lead to disruption while we source the required spare parts.
"We apologise to passengers for any inconvenience this may cause."
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