Customer Update - vessel deployment and annual overhaul

Update 10 November 2026

Customer update – vessel deployment and annual overhaul

We are currently in our annual maintenance and overhaul period. Maintenance and overhaul of every vessel is mandatory to ensure the fleet has the necessary certifications, and essential in making sure that required works can be carried out to reduce risk of in-service breakdowns.

As we move through this period, we’ll keep you informed of significant changes to the schedule that may affect the service.

With that in mind, we now know that MV Loch Seaforth's annual overhaul will run on by two weeks later than planned. (The port and starboard rudder stocks require specialist repair in Denmark).

A repair plan is in place, and we now expect her overhaul to complete on Thursday 26 November and a return to service on Saturday 28 November.

Service plan

We require two vessels to cover MV Loch Seaforth – one for the usual day service and one for the overnight freight service. And at the same time, we are unable to delay the overhaul of other vessels in the schedule due to expiring certifications and anticipated knock-on effect. Below, we’ve set out how we will manage the delay with the vessels available to us.

Effect on service

Ullapool-Stornoway: MV Isle of Islay (freight service) moves from Islay, operating alongside MV Isle of Lewis (day service) from Sunday 15 November to Friday 27 November

Kennacraig-Islay: MV Isle of Arran moves from Oban-Craignure, operating alongside MV Finlaggan providing a two-vessel service from Friday 13 November to Monday 30 November. This route will have an amended timetable due to the operating times of MV Isle of Arran compared to MV Isle of Islay.

Mull: Oban-Craignure will be a single-vessel MV Loch Frisa service from Friday 13 November until Monday 30 November. This will be supplemented by additional sailings by MV Clansman on a Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

Though not directly linked to this reshuffle, MV Lord of the Isles will be supporting the Ministry of Defence exercise on South Uist, which occurs every second year. From 23 November to 18 December, she'll operate an amended timetable with more sailings to Oban. Until MV Loch Seaforth returns, this will also be a combined service with Castlebay. The amended timetable will be published nearer 23 November.

How to stay in touch

We will keep our customers informed of any changes to services via our app and the Opens in new windowservices status and information pages at calmac.co.uk

As always, these will carry the very latest information. Our app can also provide push notifications – automated updates – for any routes you have ‘favourited’. It is a useful way to stay abreast of details generally, but especially during this period.

Deployment plan in full

We have also shared the deployment plan in full – this can change in the period, ahead.