Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) will be the focus of a new fly-on-the-wall T.V. documentary series which will show the work and life aboard their services to Scotand's west coast island communities that it connects.

The first of the eight episodes of 'Island Crossings' is to be screened today, Sunday at 9pm on the BBC Scotland channel as Afloat previously reported.

CalMac which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, operates the largest ferry fleet in Britain of 35 (albeit in domestic waters) across 26 islands, running more than 500 sailings every day, operating 29 different routes. 

Among the extensive route network are those that connect Arran (see ferry trip) Harris, Islay and Skye and dozens of smaller islands to mainland Scotland and inter-island services. 

In tonight's opening episode, Ardrossan, the port for the Isle of Arran on the Firth of Clyde, is where port terminal assistants Kirsty and Debra -– who was only four weeks into the job at the time. They have to deal with complaints and concerns from thousands of passengers bound for Brodick Highland Games, including Kilbarchan Pipe Band members, as they are left waiting indefinitely after MV Caledonian Isles (see photo) breaks down (see CalMac's Arran service update) on the busiest day of the year.

The programme also features Isle of Mull youngster Oscar leave home, just as hundreds of other islander pupils have to do when they reach secondary school age. The school goers early on Monday mornings take the ferry crossing to spend the week on the mainland in Oban at the school hostel.

InverClydeNow has more on the new documentary series.