Brand new CalMac ferry Isle of Islay out of action for repairs just 3 months after entering service
Both of the operator’s newly-designated standby vessels also pressed into action to cover other breakdowns
CalMac's newest ferry is to be taken out of action for two weeks for repairs - just three months after entering service.
The work on the Isle of Islay will be carried out between July 15-28 and has sparked concerns given the ferry will be replaced with a smaller vessel with half the car space, just as the peak tourist season approaches.
CalMac’s newly-designated standby vessels have also been pressed into action because of faults with two of its other large ferries.
News of the repairs also comes days after the Scottish Government moved to secure three of Isle of Islay’s sister ships under construction in Turkey over fears for the future of the shipyard.
Its ferry-buying firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited has confirmed this involved paying the final instalments of the contracts for the vessels, totalling £23 million.
The 450-passenger isle of Islay started carrying passengers between Kennacraig in Kintyre and Port Askaig in Islay on March 31 but has since developed problems with its bow visor or ramp, which vehicles use to drive on and off.
The vessel has had to operate stern only since the start of June, causing potentially longer turnarounds and vehicles having to reverse.
Repairs will also include some of around 150 “warranty items” raised with its builders since the ferry’s arrival in February.
Its passenger debut was also delayed by other repairs, while a fault with the ferry’s sewage system on Thursday led to cancellation of two sailings while it was fixed.
CalMac said the latest repairs list included to the mezzanine deck, where a wire ”needs to be assessed”.
But it described that as “the type of standard warranty item we have to deal with when bedding in a new vessel”.
CalMac said a list of the other items was not available, but the number was typical for the first of a new type of vessel, and they were all very minor.
However, Islay Ferry Committee raised concerns because stand-in ferry Isle of Arran can only carry 55 cars compared to Isle of Islay’s capacity of 100.
It will operate along with Finlaggan, the route’s other vessel, which can carry 85 cars.
Committee secretary Jim Porteous said: “We were informed that in addition to the bow ramp, there were a few snagging issues needing attention.
“It is disappointing that she will be temporarily replaced by the much lower capacity Isle of Arran for the duration and this will certainly reduce space availability during the peak tourist season.”
Mr Porteous said the sewage fault had “caused considerable disruption whilst transferring booked traffic to other sailings.”
A CalMac spokesperson said: “Isle of Islay has had a problem with her bow ramp and it is a warranty claim with the shipyard.
“The ferry is being removed from service for planned maintenance from July 15 to 28.
“Disruption is minimal and there are still spaces available on both Finlaggan and Isle of Arran during this period.
“The work is planned for Dales Marine Service in Greenock in dry dock and then at its facility at James Watt Dock.
“This will allow us to return the bow ramp to operations, and to make use of the time in dock to address a few other warranty items.
“We were very happy with the vessel and the number of items is comparable with what we'd expect to see of any new vessel, particularly a first in class. Some of these will be for very minor items.”
Scottish Conservative transport spokesperson and Highlands and Islands MSP Tim Eagle said: “This news will come as another hammer blow for islanders who have been treated as an afterthought at every stage of the SNP’s never-ending ferries scandal.
“Isle of Islay, which was delivered over a year later than planned, has barely been on the water for three months – and it’s already being pulled from service.
“This repair job is likely to come at huge cost to the taxpayer, who have already had to shell out millions on a fleet of decrepit vessels.
“It doesn’t seem to matter where CalMac ferries are built – Turkey or the Clyde – the SNP are incapable of getting them delivered on time, on budget and problem-free.
“It’s scandalous that not a single Nationalist minister has been held to account for the chaos engulfing our ferry network.”
Meantime, CalMac has deployed one of its standby vessels, Isle of Arran, to cover the principal Mull route between Oban and Craignure until at least Thursday after the bow ramp on its main ferry, Isle of Mull, also developed problems.
Glen Sannox, its other “resilience” vessel, despite being built for the main Arran route, has taken over the Ullapool-Stornoway route while Loch Seaforth, CalMac’s largest ferry, has its starboard engine fixed.
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