Scotland's west coast ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) have confirmed that the chartered catamaran MV Alfred from Pentland Ferries, will run for a six-month extension.

The added timeframe of the charter is to provide additional resources through the winter and for the annual overhaul period of CalMac ferries.

MV Alfred’s charter will now be in place until 21 August, 2024, with deployment plans of the vehicle-carrying catamaran set to be confirmed as soon as possible, the ferry operator said.

The Pentland Ferries craft which normally operates to Orkney, earlier this year joined the CalMac fleet to support the Ardrossan-Brodick, Isle of Arran main route ferry, MV Caledonian Isles, following months of problems and cancellations on the Forth of Clyde route.

CalMac said that it is working closely with Pentland Ferries to expedite a ramp modification solution to improve the interface at Campbeltown, Mull of Kintyre and at Troon when the Alfred is deployed to Islay off south-west Scotland.

The deployment to Islay will be restricted to operating to and from Ardrossan in Ayrshire until the modifications are completed and so customers will be informed as the modifications progress.

When the Alfred is deployed on the longer crossing time Islay route, options to improve catering options for customers are also being explored.

More here from STV News on the extended chartered catamaran ferry.