From tomorrow (12 May) CalMac are to introduce the chartered MV Alfred into service on the Ardrossan to Brodick Route on a 2 week trial basis, sailing in tandem with the scheduled sailings on the Caledonian Isles.
Her sailings will not be bookable- just turn up and go.
She will be sailing from the Irish berth at Ardrossan (which is not the normal ferry berth, she doesn't fit the normal berth) and have no lift access from the car deck which all passengers will have to board on, and have no catering. But this will provide much needed extra capacity.
In years past ferries sailed from Ardrossan to Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man, hence the Irish berth.
Posted by
OP
Lake District, England
8134 posts
MV Alfred is to continue as 2nd ship on the Brodick service until 29 June.-
She will sail on-
Friday – Monday
Depart Ardrossan - 08:00, 11:30 and 16:15
Depart Brodick - 09:45, 13:15 and 18:00
Tuesday – Thursday
Depart Ardrossan - 08:00 and 16:15
Depart Brodick - 09:45 and 18:00
These are in between the normal timetabled Caledonian Isles sailings on the route.
This means that the Ardrossan to Campbeltown route will now not start seasonally until 30 June
There had been plans to deploy the MV Alfred on a new route to Islay during refit period on that route, but these proved to be unworkable.