Loch-Bhrusda Vessel Reviews and Specifications

A vehicle malfunction on the car deck of the 'Loch Bhrusda' caused a delay on the Mallaig to Armadale ferry route on June 2, 2026. The incident occurred in the afternoon, prompting a postponement of the ferry’s planned departure at 2:45 p.m. until the car was safely removed. Subsequently, the 'Loch Bhrusda' was able to set sail an hour later at 3:45 p.m. This delay also affected the ferry's next scheduled departure from Armadale, which was pushed back to 4:30 p.m. Thankfully, the nearby ferry 'Coruisk' continued to operate its sailings as per the timetable, ensuring minimal disruption for other travelers.

On April 7, 2026, the ferry 'Loch Brushda', which operates on the Berneray-Leverburgh route, experienced a major technical malfunction related to its forward main engine, necessitating the procurement of spare parts. This unfortunate situation led to the cancellation of services on that day. In response, the charter vessel 'Rodwell' was deployed from April 8 to April 11 to maintain service continuity, following the established timetable. However, it’s important to note that 'Rodwell' is exclusively a passenger vessel, resulting in limited capacity for travelers. From April 11 onward, the vessel 'Leslie-Anne' took over as a vehicle charter service, adhering to a modified timetable to accommodate vehicle transport. On April 13, the 'Loch Brushda' was reported on its way to the Sound of Harris, with plans to resume regular service by April 15.

On September 1, 2025, the ferry 'Loch Bhrusda', which operates the Mallaig-Small route, encountered a technical issue that necessitated its return to Mallaig for further evaluation. In response to this disruption, the operators promptly deployed the 'Miss Marley' as a temporary replacement vessel starting September 2, 2025. The adjusted sailing schedule for the 'Miss Marley' is as follows: It departs Mallaig at 08:00 a.m., reaches Muck at 10:00 a.m., then leaves Muck at 10:15 a.m. to arrive at Eigg by 10:45 a.m. Following this, it departs Eigg at 11:00 a.m. and arrives at Rum at 12:30 p.m. The vessel then leaves Rum at 1:00 p.m., heading back to Mallaig and arriving at 3:00 p.m. The service continues on September 3 with departures from Mallaig at 10:00 a.m. to Eigg, arriving at 12:00 p.m., then a departure from Eigg at 12:15 p.m., reaching Muck by 12:45 p.m., followed by a departure from Muck at 1:00 p.m., and ultimately returning to Mallaig by 3:30 p.m. Once the technical issue with the 'Loch Bhrusda' is rectified, it is expected to resume its normal operations and schedule.