Last-minute hitch delays go back of CalMac ferry MV Caledonian Isles

The deliberate go back to carrier of a CalMac ferry after 18 months of maintenance has been behind schedule by way of a last-minute technical hitch.

MV Caledonian Isles has been not able to hold passengers since January 2024 because of a sequence of faults that experience price just about £11m to mend.

The 32-year-old send were because of resume sailings from Ardrossan to Arran on Friday morning however sea trials published a brand new drawback with the send’s gearbox.

CalMac mentioned it will now be Tuesday on the earliest sooner than Caledonian Isles may just go back however sailings from Troon would nonetheless be to be had within the period in-between.

MV Caledonian Isles was once first of all taken out of carrier in January final 12 months after regimen annual upkeep published severe metal corrosion.

Months of main restore paintings came about in dry dock at Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside, requiring elimination of the send’s engines.

Upon the send’s go back to Scotland in September, a gearbox and propeller fault have been detected, and additional investigation at Dale’s Marine in Greenock published the rear of the send was once twisted.

A spokesperson for CalMac mentioned the newest gearbox fault was once believed to be rather minor and the staff have been running to deal with it, however additional sea trials can be required sooner than the send returns to carrier.

“Whilst this will be disappointing news, a two-vessel service from Troon will remain in place for now to ensure Arran has a reliable service with appropriate capacity,” they mentioned.

“We carry out sea trials to identify and address issues and that is what we’ve done here.

“It’s been a protracted highway to get thus far with MV Caledonian Isles and, within the context of the place we’ve got been, we’re nonetheless assured we will be able to see her sporting passengers between Ardrossan and Brodick imminently.”

Services from Troon, about 15 miles additional south at the Ayrshire coast, will probably be supplied by way of the brand new ferry MV Glen Sannox and the chartered catamaran Alfred.