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Small Isles Freight Service

Distribution of freight


The guidance below provides the details you need to know on the distribution of your freight - from drop off to delivery and collection between Mallaig and Small Isles only.

Drop off 

  • Freight must be dropped off at Mallaig port after 8am in winter and 7am in summer (8.30am on a Sunday) and at least one hour before shipment. Sailing times can be found on our timetable pages and you can contact our freight team during opening hours.

  • By following the signage at Mallaig Port Office, you will be directed to the designated freight container where all freight should be delivered to. Deliveries must be checked in with member of staff one hour prior to shipment. 

  • Please be aware that Caledonian MacBrayne is not liable for any items abandoned prior to staff being on duty or after hours. This may result in items not being shipped. We will notify the customer to advise the goods have been left unattended. 

  • Should the delivery vehicles arrive at the port whilst staff are involved in other duties, it is not acceptable to off-load the goods into the store or leave at the doorway without a member of staff being present. Drivers should either wait or return at a more suitable time. 

Delivery/collection of freight 

Please follow the following guidance when delivering or collecting freight: 

  • Freight team will provide acknowledgement of freight requests and detail of expected collection or delivery through email or phone. 

  • The freight team will have the authority to reject freight items if: 

  • the process has not been followed by the customer resulting in a backlog, 

  • there is a backlog of freight items to be shipped and no storage capacity, 

  • there is no physical space within freight vehicles to ship the item, 

  • the customer's consignment exceeds a tonne.

  • Our freight team will always endeavour to accommodate your collection and delivery of freight. 

  • Items due to be collected by the freight team should be taken to the port to be collected when the freight team arrives, based on date and time arranged with the freight team. Pier staff will then log items on a manifest. 

Delivery Point 

  • Once the vessel has reached her destination point, the freight assistant will drive the freight van off the vessel car deck and onto the island. Freight will be dropped off at the designated drop off area on each island. The pier area is the assigned drop off point for Muck, Rum, Canna and Eigg.

  • On Eigg double call days Caledonian MacBrayne staff have the option to take the van to the Eigg shop, pending vehicle permit approval.

Ownership of deliveries  

  • Where the goods are to be carried to a point beyond that of discharge from sea carriage, to be undertaken by Caledonian MacBrayne; we shall have no liability in respect of carriage beyond the point of discharge. In arranging any carriage beyond the point of discharge, we are acting only as an agent for the carrier(s) performing that carriage, whose own terms and conditions shall apply.

Find out more about Dangerous Goods

Please be aware - this process is for transporting freight to the Small Isles only. Should you need to speak to us about freight or commercial vehicles for another destination, please contact the relevant port of departure. Contact details can be found on our timetable pages

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