Residents and the local ferry committee have asked CalMac to keep the 15-year-old Finlaggan on the Islay route this winter because it provides a fuller timetable and fewer operational restrictions than the new Loch Indaal.
Islay community requests Finlaggan remain on the route because it avoids weekly half-day maintenance stoppages required for new ships and carries more foot passengers when transporting certain dangerous goods.
Isle of Islay, a sister ship already operating the route, experienced early technical problems that reduced usable vehicle spaces and required repairs, fueling local caution about introducing another new vessel mid-winter.
CalMac says Loch Indaal plus Isle of Islay would raise overall capacity, while regulatory limits — not vessel design — drive passenger restrictions on sailings carrying specific dangerous goods.
# What happened Islay islanders and the local ferry committee have asked Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) to keep the older ferry Finlaggan on the Islay route for the winter instead of bringing in the brand-new Loch Indaal. The request is based on operational differences that the islanders say would make the newer vessel unsuited to the current winter timetable.
# Vessels and capacities Loch Indaal is a new vessel being completed in Turkey and can carry 100 cars. Finlaggan is 15 years old and has capacity for 85 cars. Isle of Islay, a sister ship to Loch Indaal, has been operating on the route alongside Finlaggan since March.
# Why islanders want Finlaggan kept on the route The local Islay Ferry Committee cites two practical points:
The committee argues these two factors make Finlaggan plus Isle of Islay a more flexible and resilient combination for winter service. They also pointed out bookings are already being accepted on the winter timetable assuming Finlaggan remains in place, and introducing Loch Indaal mid-way would force many rebookings.
# Technical issues with new vessels Isle of Islay experienced teething troubles earlier in the year that required two-week repairs in July and caused temporary service suspensions. Problems included bow ramp and clam door faults and non-operational mezzanine decks for weeks, which could reduce available vehicle spaces by up to 22 per trip. The committee used this record to argue bringing another new vessel into the route risks further disruption.
# CalMac's position
# Local political support Argyll and Bute SNP MSP Jenni Minto supported the ferry committee's request, saying the island required the flexibility provided by Finlaggan working with Isle of Islay to meet local needs.
# Bottom line Islay's request is practical: residents want continuity and flexibility in winter ferry service. The debate focuses on maintenance schedules, regulatory passenger limits on dangerous-goods sailings, and whether adding a newly built vessel mid-timetable would improve capacity or create new constraints and disruption.
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