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Covid-19 Customer Updates and Travel Advice

Customer Update: normal winter timetable resumes from 26 January 2022

Normal winter timetable resumes from 26 January 2022

We are pleased to let our customers know that our normal winter timetable will resume from 26 January 2022 thanks to a noticeable decrease in covid-related absences among colleagues.  

Our essential services temporary timetable, which was first introduced on 3 January due to the impact of Covid19 on our crew and port-based colleagues, will end ahead of schedule on 25 January 2022. We would like to thank our customers for their patience during this period.  

This means that the following routes will return to their normal winter timetable:  

For clarity, please be aware of amendments which will remain in place as a result of the annual  overhaul programme:  

Mallaig/Oban - Lochboisdale  

Due to a delay to the annual overhaul schedule, this service is cancelled until at least 6 February 2022.  This is because of an extension to overhaul on MV Caledonian Isles due to emergent steelwork repairs. As a result, we cannot release MV Hebridean Isles to cover the Oban-Lochboisdale sailing. MV Isle of Arran's crewing situation has been reviewed and she is now able to return to service between Oban & Craignure. We had planned to therefore have MV Isle of Mull provide a service between Oban & Lochboisdale, however today an issue was discovered with the vessel's bow visor seal and she has been withdrawn from service for repairs. We are awaiting a timescale for repairs and will provide updates on when we may be able to reinstate services as a result when this information becomes available. Alternative services are available via Lochmaddy and also an outbound from Barra to Oban via the Sound of Barra connection on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.  We know this is challenging for our customers and we apologise for the disruption. 

Sound of Barra  

The Sound of Barra service is operating an amended timetable to allow an outbound connection to Oban via Castlebay on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. We will continue to keep you updated via our website regarding completion of work.  

Tarbert - Lochranza / Tarbert - Portavadie  

The Lochranza - Tarbert service will continue to have two sailings per day until at least 6 February 2022. This increase is to support capacity while MV Hebridean Isles - a smaller vessel - is substituting on the Ardrossan - Brodick route during the annual overhaul programme. The Tarbert - Portavadie service will continue its current timetable to allow the service vessel to support the Tarbert - Lochranza sailing.  

Oban - Craignure  

On Mondays, the 14:00 Oban - Craignure service will continue to be suspended, due to the delay in the annual overhaul programme, and is planned to resume on Monday 7 February.    

Reservations 

If your reservation was moved to a sailing on the essential services temporary timetable and you would now like to revert to your original booking, subject to availability, please contact our customer contact centre.  

Ports  

Ports in Coll and Tiree have returned to normal opening hours. Ardrossan and Brodick will return from Wednesday 26 January.

Ports in Stornoway, Ullapool, Uig, Lochmaddy, Lochboisdale, Castlebay, Armadale and Mallaig will continue to operate reduced opening hours focused on sailing times before returning to normal service on 31 January 2022.  

Return of on-board food and drink  

Our on-board retail and food and drink offering as well as our Coffee Cabin at Ardrossan Port will also reopen on Wednesday 26 January. Find out what is available in our food and drink section..  

Help protect each other, our crew and the communities we serve  

We are pleased to be in a position to resume our normal winter timetable earlier than we had hoped, however, it's important to note that rates of Covid19 do remain high. We ask our customers to help protect each other, our crew and the communities we serve by continuing to follow our safer travel rules.  Face coverings are legally required in our ports and offices and in all indoor areas of our vessels.  

Stay up to date with the latest information  

We will keep you informed as we all continue to navigate through this period. You can stay up to date by checking our website FAQs for all the latest information on travelling with us.  

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