Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that the island of Arran will be served by two ships for a ten-week period this summer (2005), considerably enhancing carrying capacity to the island.

CalMac will be adding MV Saturn to its timetable for the service between Ardrossan and Brodick, in addition to the regular service offered by MV Caledonian Isles. The addition of MV Saturn, which can carry 35 cars and 250 passengers, will ease some of the capacity issues affecting customers on the island, at the main summer traffic carrying times.

MV Saturn is available to CalMac to provide the additional services as she will be withdrawn from her current Upper Clyde duties on the arrival of MV Bute at the end of June on the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay service. The additional service, which is being provided only initially for the summer of 2005, will run for ten weeks, with MV Saturn also being on stand-by to assist with emergency cover in other parts of the network.

Robbie Brown, CalMac’s Route Manager responsible for the service, said: “The three crossings a day that we are planning will go a long way to easing the capacity issues we sometimes face due to the popularity of the island of Arran. If the freight users in particular avail themselves of the opportunities offered, we should see a similar gain as happened in other areas and this could release up to twenty or more car spaces on the main service. That will make a huge impact and it will be of benefit to all our customers. I will shortly be meeting the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee to discuss the fine detail of the additional sailings such as the departure times we are proposing and I am sure that they will welcome this initiative.”

CalMac’s additional sailings to Arran will be fully detailed once the final shape of the timetable has been established and bookings will be available through the Company’s normal channels. The additional service will be reviewed after the end of the summer season and assessed for its use and impact with a view to taking further decisions on the future provision of services between the island of Arran and the mainland.