'Fury and despair': MV Corran now due back a year after she left

The MV Corran is now expected to return to the Corran Ferry service across Loch Linnhe in October - 12 months after it left for its annual refit, leaving the 48-year-old back-up MV Maid of Glencoul as cover, which has been broken down for 92 days so far this year.

 

The 22-year-old MV Corran missed many return dates. The operator, the Highland Council, first expected her back in early April 2023, put back to early June, then end of June, then mid August, then end of August, and now mid October.

 

The stated causes included fixing the “23-year-old ramps and “cycloidal propulsion unit”, recasting the crown-wheel-gear, “supply chain challenges”, and then “capacity constraints at the boat yard”.

 

The MV Corran is in her in third week in dry dock at Ardmaleish boat yard on the Isle of Bute. The Highland Council confirmed the following repairs update from last week, posted on social media on September 5.

 

"attachment_1020469" "aligncenter" "300"] The Highland Council said the welding and plating is programmed to be completed by the 24 September, when phase two of the repair works can begin, including painting, electrical work and the fitting of the propellor unit by Wärtsilä and Voith at the Ardmaleish boatyard on the Isle of Bute.

 

"Coolers, fans and valves have been overhauled," the update said. "Extensive welding and plating work continues with the welding team working 24/7. Target date for welding/plating completion currently w/e 24 Sept.

 

"Due to health and safety, all other works on the vessel itself will commence once the welding/plating work is complete. Painting and electrical scheduled to commence 25 Sept.

 

"The propellor unit will be fitted by Wärtsilä and Voith at Ardmaleish boat yard. Target date for completion of all dry dock repair works is the week ending October 8."

 

Highland Council said this will be followed by: "GKS-Marine (specialists in marine control systems), steering health check; MCA visit - Passenger Certificate renewal; one day sea trial around the Isle of Bute area; two to three days sail back to Corran, Lochaber; one day to fit ramps.

 

"With the schedule of works programmed, the timeline for the MV Corran to return for service is mid-October. Weekly updates will continue to be issued to the Corran Ferry Steering Group as the repair work continues."

 

Ardgour Community Council’s vice chair, Dr Michael Foxley, said: "Fury and despair was the reaction across the peninsulas to the latest information from Highland Council about the endless delays of the return MV Corran, AWOL now for almost a year and delayed a further six weeks.

 

"Works on the deck should have been carried out during the last nine months that the ferry has been laid up. We need a professional ferry project manager brought in.

 

"The chaos on the single track road continues with regular emergency stops-funding is available for the additional passing places and advisory signage which needs to be done now.

 

"A resilience fund needs to be established for struggling businesses. These problems will continue for years and a new diesel ferry needs to be ordered now.

 

"This is an emergency and Highland Council needs to make action for our communities their top priority."

 

Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, councillor Ken Gowans said: “MV Corran is now going into her third week of dry dock repairs and with crews working 24/7 in three shift rotations, we are pleased that progress is continuing at pace.

 

“I would like to assure the communities and businesses affected by the disruption to the vehicle carrying service across the Corran Narrows, that the daily foot passenger boats from Corran and Fort William to Ardgour and the shuttle bus service will continue to operate free of charge until the MV Corran returns to service in mid-October.”

 

For Corran Ferry temporary foot passenger timetables and service updates, please follow the new Corran Ferry Facebook (external link) page and the @CorranFerry (external link) Twitter/X page. You can also find information on the Council’s Corran Ferry website.