Scottish Ferry News July-August 2026


The two stalwarts serving Cumbrae from Largs in summer 2026 — Loch Shira and, heading away, her partner Loch Tarbert

The latest edition of Scottish Ferry News documents movements of the CalMac fleet during July and August 2026, and is compiled exclusively for CRSC members.

On Wednesday 15 July Isle of Islay was seen entering the Garvel Drydock at Dales yard at Greenock

The newest member of the fleet, Isle of Islay, spent part of July off service for warranty repairs, carried out at Greenock where she was drydocked for a few days. Glen Sannox spent the period under review on relief duties in the Western Isles, covering for Loch Seaforth on the Ullapool run, and for Loch Portain by giving extra sailings between Tarbert and Lochmaddy before taking over the full Uig ‘triangle’ service for a spell while Hebrides underwent maintenance at Stornoway.

On the Clyde Caledonian Isles had two spells off service while pre-planned main engine work was carried out at Greenock: Isle of Arran returned to her original haunts to provide cover while the larger ship was out of commission. The veteran also served at Islay while Isle of Islay was in dock, as well as making unusual visits to Armadale and conducting berthing trials at the three ports of the Little Minch triangle: these were in preparation for a short stint of relief duty while Glen Sannox had a couple of days off from her temporary Sound of Harris employment. Isle of Arran spent a short time in temporary lay-up in Ayr harbour too, and she also stood in on the Craignure run when Isle of Mull was called upon to do a Tiree run for Clansman.

Glen Sannox glides towards the berth at Tarbert, Harris on Tuesday 28 July

Having only recently returned to the Sound of Harris after being fitted with new engines and gearboxes, Loch Portain developed propulsion problems that led to her withdrawal and eventual return to repair yards on the Clyde for further attention – she was not expected to be able to resume service for some time.

Another vessel that had been off service undergoing a protracted refit was Lochinvar which, at last, left Greenock’s James Watt Dock late in August and resumed service on the Portavadie route.

Fresh from overhaul at Ardmaleish, Loch Linnhe visited Colintraive on Friday 21 August for adjustments to her ramps

Loch Bhrusda was removed from her Mallaig employment to relieve Loch Portain, but suffered from technical problems that twice prevented her from completing her passage out to North Uist before she eventually reached the Sound of Harris late in July. Meanwhile the overhaul programme began, with Carvoria, Lochs Linnhe and Riddon, Lochnevis and Ali Cat all being docked for surveys at some point during August.

A number of smaller vessels were again chartered to fill in for CalMac vessels that were off service either for their own overhauls, or relieving elsewhere in the network.

As usual, full details of all of them can be found in the latest edition of Scottish Ferry News, which is put together especially for CRSC.

Scottish Ferry News covers all known movements by members of the CalMac fleet in July and August 2026 and, like previous editions, is available only to paid-up CRSC members.

If you wish to read this authoritative update on Clyde and West Highland ferry movements, but have not yet joined CRSC (introductory membership for the first year with full benefits: £15), then please click here.

Published on 30 September 2026