Ardrossan to Arran Ferry Redeployed to Oban for Service Support
The Ardrossan to Arran ferry has been moved to Oban to assist with services to Mull while the MV Caledonian Isles undergoes repairs.
Ardrossan, Arran, Oban, CalMac, MV Glen Sannox, Ferry Service
Oban: So, the ferry that usually runs between Ardrossan and Arran has been shifted to Oban. This is to help out with the services to Mull while the MV Caledonian Isles is getting some much-needed repairs. It’s been a long wait for that overhaul, almost a year!
The MV Glen Sannox just started its service on January 13, making three return trips to Arran. It carried over 1,000 passengers that day, which is pretty impressive, especially since other routes were facing disruptions due to the weather.
CalMac’s CEO, Duncan Mackison, mentioned that the entry of MV Glen Sannox was a big deal for Arran. It managed to carry all the traffic that had to be rerouted because of cancellations. That’s a win for everyone involved!
He’s optimistic that this is just the beginning for Arran, with hopes for better reliability and capacity as more new vessels join the fleet soon. It’s exciting to think about how this will benefit other routes too.
Later this week, the MV Isle of Arran will also be moving to Mull, which means a two-vessel service will be back in action. Plus, it’ll help with some routes to Colonsay, Coll, and Tiree.
Just a heads up, the MV Alfred is going in for its annual overhaul on February 10, so they’ll be keeping an eye on the deployment plans for the major routes during that time.
Unfortunately, Ardrossan will be without a ferry service for about two months until the MV Caledonian Isles returns. In the meantime, the Glen Sannox will be operating from Troon since it can’t dock at Ardrossan until the harbor gets a facelift.
They’re still working out who’s footing the bill for those upgrades, so it’s a bit of a waiting game for now.