Displaying items by tag: Main Arran ferry

24th January 2024

Firth of Clyde’s Main Arran Ferry MV Caledonian Isles Out of Action for Extended Period, While Second Ferry Resumes Service Today

The main Isle of Arran ferry which operates the Ardrossan-Brodick route, reveals Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) will be futher delayed until at least March, reports the Ardrossan&SaltcoatsHerald.

MV Caledonian Isles which is undergoing annual overhaul at Dales Marine Service, Greenock, as Afloat reported yesterday, was supposed to be back on the route tomorrow, 25 January.

According to CalMac the ferry will however remain out of action for weeks as it requires more steel repairs.

This will lead to the MV Isle of Arran -also currently out of action - could be the only ferry on the Ardrossan-Brodick route until March 6 at least. (Noting, in an update, Afloat.ie can confirm, following repairs and sea-trials, the ferry was tracked today, with the 13:55hrs sailing from Arran to the mainland which was completed just before 14:45hrs), for further detailed sailing updates, click CalMac’s service status here and information including the chartered catamaran MV Alfred.

As for the setback with MV Caledonian Isles, this is the latest blow to hit the Arran ferry service in recent weeks, given the cancellations due to storms, notably this week and issues at the ‘Irish’ berth in Ardrossan which led to its closure following a dive survey. The resultant impact is on the MV Alfred, the temporary replacement for the Caledonian Isles, which can't operate out of Ardrossan.

With the MV Isle of Arran having to be sidelined too after a fault was discovered on the main starboard engine on the 40-year-old veteran vessel, essential maintenance was carried out while the ferry was out of action during the Storms Isha/Jocelyn.

The ferry however resumed service today as the part needed to repair MV Isle of Arran, thankfully had arrived and engineers worked on the ferry with the sea trials as expected were carried out this morning.

More here on the Firth of Clyde short-sea service route which takes just under an hour’s passage time.

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The Loughs Agency is a governmental body established under the 1998 Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Ireland. The Agency's goal is to provide sustainable social, economic, and environmental benefits by effectively conserving, managing, promoting, and developing the fisheries and marine resources of the Foyle and Carlingford areas.

The Agency's governing legislation confers several specific functions, including the promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes in respect of marine, fishery, and aquaculture matters. Moreover, the Agency is responsible for managing, conserving, protecting, improving, and developing the inland fisheries of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Additionally, the Agency has the task of developing and licensing aquaculture, as well as the development of marine tourism.

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In conclusion, the Loughs Agency plays a vital role in promoting the sustainable social, economic, and environmental development of the Foyle and Carlingford areas. Its work on marine conservation and development is crucial in ensuring the long-term viability of the region's natural resources and in promoting sustainable economic growth.