Port Askaig ferry timetable set to stay on course

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-07-30 10:10 2 min read

A CalMac ferry vessel sailing through water with coastal hills in the background.

Ferry passengers travelling between Port Askaig, Islay and Jura should see no timetable changes during the week beginning 3 August 2026, while repairs are carried out at Port Askaig Harbour.

The work will target two of the harbour’s three parallel motion fenders (PMFs), which were damaged after their refurbishment in 2024. Argyll and Bute Council says the repairs will be fitted around the CalMac sailing schedule and timed to make use of next week’s low tides.

What ferry passengers can expect

Islay and Jura ferry services are scheduled to run without disruption.
Work areas will be cleared 30 minutes before each scheduled ferry arrival.
A section of the quayside will be cordoned off around a land-based mobile crane.
A small works boat and dive team will support repairs from the water.

Passengers should continue to check their normal CalMac sailing information, while taking care around the restricted harbour work zone.

Repairs planned around sailings and tides

Contractor George Leslie has planned the work around the needs of ferry operators, passengers and other users of the busy summer harbour. The contractor previously refurbished the fenders for CMAL and is familiar with the equipment and replacement components required.

The repairs include removing damaged UHMW-PE panels, replacing damaged studs, repairing paintwork and fitting new facing panels on two PMFs. The seaward leg fender unit on PMF1 will also be replaced, along with damaged or loose fixings connecting the fender components and backing plate.

Port Askaig ferry timetable set to stay on course

A mobile crane will provide access from a man basket to the area beside the passenger access platform. The works boat will allow access to repairs that require water-based operations, while diving work means the team can continue regardless of the tide state.

Harbour access will remain managed during the work

The crane operating area on the quayside will be separated from the public for safety. Work will be coordinated around both the tides and arriving ferries, with the site cleared ahead of scheduled arrivals.

Councillor Ross Moreland, chair of the Argyll and Bute Harbour Board, said the arrangement should allow both ferry services to continue during the busy summer period. He thanked stakeholders for their cooperation and said the repairs would help keep the islands connected.

Source: Argyll and Bute Council

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source check

This article was checked against the Argyll and Bute Council notice dated 30 July 2026.

Checks

Confirmed the repair week begins on 3 August 2026.
Confirmed the Islay and Jura ferry services are expected to run without disruption.
Checked the planned crane, works boat and dive-team arrangements.
Confirmed work areas will be cleared 30 minutes before ferry arrivals.

Argyll and Bute Council Check ferry repair updates