MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has today written to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, as well as CalMac, regarding the impact of vessel deployment decisions on the ability of passengers in Barra and in South Uist to travel to and from the mainland.

Further delays to MV Isle of Lewis returning from her annual overhaul have resulted in Castlebay and Lochboisdale continuing to be required to share a service to Oban using MV Isle of Mull, which is limited to carrying a maximum of 45 passengers while she awaits repairs to evacuation equipment.

Bookings for this week have been being taken based on the capacity of MV Isle of Lewis, and now many of those passengers who had booked travel are unable to do so.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said :

"I appreciate the deeply challenging situation in which CalMac have found themselves in recent weeks with a number of their key major vessels out of action, whether planned or unexpectedly.  However, it is simply inequitable and untenable that one island is left with no ferry capacity for any passengers to travel to the mainland, while other islands in the network maintain two vessel provision. Route prioritisation mechanisms do not seem to be working as they should.

"The total lack of capacity available between Castlebay/Lochboisdale and Oban this week is detrimentally affecting those needing to travel for medical appointments, school trips and family holidays, for example. Islanders recognise that there will regulalry be issues with travelling to the mainland, whether as a result of weather or technical issues with an aging fleet. But residents are understandably angry about the way in which the vessel deployment decisions taken by CalMac have led to the current predicament."