CalMac's Arran ferry service was evacuated on Friday evening following a dramatic incident in which a passenger was rescued from the water and subsequently reported a bomb threat on board the vessel.
The incident unfolded on the MV Caledonian Isles during the 16:40 sailing from Brodick to Ardrossan. A passenger went overboard, prompting crew to launch the ferry's fast rescue craft to retrieve them from the sea. After being brought back on board, the rescued individual claimed there was a bomb on the vessel.
In response to the threat, CalMac activated its emergency protocols immediately. The ferry was subjected to a full search while it continued to Ardrossan harbour. All 329 passengers were evacuated on foot when the vessel berthed, and police transported both passengers and people waiting at the port to a nearby Asda car park while the search was conducted. Vehicles that had been loaded onto the MV Caledonian Isles remained on board during the evacuation.
The incident led to significant disruption to ferry services. All remaining scheduled sailings from Ardrossan were cancelled on Friday evening as authorities completed their investigation.
What did CalMac say about the incident?
CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison confirmed that staff and crew were following established emergency procedures in coordination with emergency services.
CalMac staff and crew are following emergency procedures alongside the emergency services and no injuries have been reported. Customers will be kept informed of the situation as it develops.
Why is this significant for ferry services?
CalMac operates the UK's largest ferry network, managing 29 routes across approximately 200 miles of Scotland's west coast. The evacuation and subsequent service cancellations represent a major disruption to transport links serving the Isle of Arran and surrounding communities. This incident follows a pattern of security-related evacuations affecting Scottish transport infrastructure, including a similar evacuation at Edinburgh Airport in June and a bomb disposal response in Edinburgh in August.
Key Facts
- A passenger was rescued from the sea during the MV Caledonian Isles' 16:40 sailing from Brodick to Ardrossan
- The rescued individual reported a bomb threat on board the vessel
- 329 passengers were evacuated on foot at Ardrossan harbour and taken to an Asda car park
- All remaining scheduled sailings from Ardrossan were cancelled on Friday evening
- No injuries were reported during the incident
