Please see below for the latest update I have received from CalMac regarding the ferry service to Cumbrae following questions I have raised with the company over the service and damage to the ramps:
“MV Loch Riddon continues to operate single Vessel on Largs today.
“We unfortunately suffered a hydraulic hose leak from a tractor and trailer. This stopped the tractor from departing the vessel until the trailer was removed and the hydraulic fluid cleared, service was cancelled for approximately one hour and 30 minutes.
“MV Isle of Cumbrae will complete service with the 1630 departing Portavadie today and then reposition to Largs to arrive approx. 2100. They will commence service as the 2nd Vessel on Largs supporting MV Loch Riddon on Tuesday.
“To accommodate Cumbrae, the Tarbert to Portavadie service has been cancelled from the 1700 service today up to and including Wednesday. Unfortunately, we expect the cancellation to go up to Friday afternoon at least.
“MV Loch Bhrusda will be crewed from Wednesday and depart Mallaig to take over MV Isle of Cumbrae on Friday afternoon.”
I understand that supply chain issues with the replacement parts needed for the MV Loch Shira’s ramps and cracked ramp hinges means that it is likely to be around six weeks before CalMac has the required parts needed to get the vessel back in service.
The Cumbrae Ferry Committee has raised serious questions over recent months about vessel maintenance and the handling of Heavy Goods Vehicle traffic from the flood defence work which was not acted on by CalMac who must now explain why the situation wasn’t addressed much earlier.
