At the meeting held in December in Barra, Cal Mac officials have agreed that when the ferry is delayed in Oban due to adverse weather, as it is today, Thursday, passenger will be allowed on board in the evening to wait for the later departure of the vessel. Vehicles will be boarded prior to sailing but passengers can make use of the ferry lounges usually from 7.30pm onwards. This may not be a big concession but at least it does not leave passengers wandering round Oban like lost sheep until an 11.30pm departure.

Another issue raised with Cal Mac was how foot passengers can be informed about ferry disruption or cancellation. Cal Mac stated that they have a text information service and that foot passengers could be kept informed by texting to 60030 with the route code which are detailed on page 5 of the winter timetables. The route code for texting for Oban/ Castlebay is 20 and for the Sound of Barra is 21.