Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) has provided no new support for the Firth of Clyde’s Arran route in a shake-up of services after the biggest and oldest vessels in Scotland's ageing lifeline ferry network were sidelined for nearly three months.

The 1,000-passenger MV Caledonian Isles, which for 31 years has served on the Arran route, is one of the busiest on the coast of Scotland, is due to be replaced but has been out of action since going for an overhaul at the start of January, with repairs expected to cost £5 million.

CalMac has warned of the disruption across the Clyde and Hebrides networks as a result of steelwork issues with the hull of the ageing Caledonian Isles. The 5,521-tonne ferry is due to be replaced by one of the two wildly overbudget and delayed hybrid-powered ferries being built at Ferguson Marine, Port Glasgow.

The Isle of Arran Ferry Committee said it was pushing for contingency plans over the latest problem to hit CalMac's ageing fleet. The Scottish Government’s new transport minister was expected to consult with CalMac managers to find out what action can be taken to support the Isle of Arran service linking Brodick and Ardrossan on the mainland.

The company said it is to maintain the new shake-up on the route with the current single vessel, the 41-year-old MV Isle of Arran. In addition, the possibility of the £1 million-a-month emergency Scottish Government-chartered catamaran ferry, MV Alfred, supporting Arran services from March 9 when it returns from its annual overhaul is being evaluated.

More TheHerald Scotland reports on the affected south-west service.

The Firth of Clyde ferry route to Brodick on Arran is set to resume today (10 February) - weather permitting - but sailings to the island will be departing to and from Troon Harbour, and not the usual port of Ardrossan.

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) had made the switch to Troon earlier week with the MV Isle of Arran. The reason for the call to this port was due to the strong easterly winds ruling Ardrossan Harbour out of action until Monday.

These same strong wind conditions led the ferry operator however to cancel Troon sailings that were to take place on Thursday.

Services on the south-west Scotland route had remained out of action yesterday, Friday, but, if the weather is kind today, MV Isle of Arran will operate the main Brodick service out of Troon.

As there is a change of the mainland port, a shuttle bus service will be put on so to take passengers between Troon - where parking is limited - and Ardrossan.

The routine service from Ardrossan Harbour to Brodick should resume on Monday.

More from Ardrossan&Saltcoat Herald on the changing ferry scene.

As for the latest information on sailing updates from the CalMac website here.

#FerryNews - In south-west Scotland, the Arran Ferry Committee has urged the powers that be to keep the ferry travelling to Ardrossan during the planned upgrades at the Harbour.

The committee met on Monday, May 14 and numerous groups, businesses and stakeholders were present, including five Calmac representatives.

Last month the (Scottish) Herald exclusively revealed that Calmac wanted the ferry to move to Troon during harbour upgrades but none of the other members of the Ardrossan Harbour Taskforce shared this view, with local MSP Kenneth Gibson vehemently against the move.

On Monday’s, Mr Gibson made his opposition to any move clear and asked for the views of the committee and Calmac. None of the Calmac representatives said they knew enough about the Ardrossan Harbour redevelopment to give an opinion, although they said ‘safety came first.’

For more news on the Firth of Clyde ferry service, click here. 

#FerryNews - Scottish ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) wants the Ardrossan to Brodick,Arran service to relocate to Troon during harbour upgrades, the Herald can exclusively reveal.

But stakeholders on the Ardrossan Harbour Taskforce are keen to see the ferry stay put, even when work is being carried out – with other locals saying that any move to Troon sets a dangerous precedent.

And at the height of the ‘Save Our Ferry’ campaign last year, the MV Isle of Arran struck the sea wall at Troon Harbour whilst attempting to seek refuge.

That put a huge dent in the ‘Choose Troon’ campaign from the businesses in the town and the port owners, ABP, Associated British Ports.

To read more on this development, click here and for related story on Calmac's ageing fleet