Full Breakdown
Man Overboard from CalMac Ferry Prompts Eight-Hour Search
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
At about 8:30 p.m. on 18 October 2026, a report was received that a man had gone overboard from the CalMac passenger vessel MV Caledonian Isles east of the Isle of Arran. Emergency services deployed two Coastguard helicopters, an aircraft, and multiple rescue teams to the scene. After an extensive eight-hour search, no trace of the missing person was found, and the operation was stood down at approximately 4:55 a.m. on 19 October pending further information.
Official Statements & Responses
A Coastguard spokesperson confirmed the timing of the initial report and described the coordinated response with Police Scotland, the RNLI, and CalMac crews. Police Scotland characterised the incident as an ongoing missing-person enquiry. CalMac indicated that its crew continued to assist the investigation and that sailings were temporarily cancelled to allow crew rest after the extended operation.
Data & Statistics
- Assets deployed: 2 HM Coastguard helicopters, 1 HM Coastguard airplane.
- Rescue teams from Arran, Ayr, Ardrossan, and Greenock.
- RNLI lifeboats from Girvan (launched just before 23:00 on 18 Oct) and Campbeltown (launched shortly after midnight).
- Service impact: sailings cancelled on the morning of 19 Oct; the vessel was scheduled to resume with the 12:30 sailing from Ardrossan.
Verbatim Quotes
- “HM Coastguard responded to a report made at about 8.30pm on 18 October of a man going overboard from a passenger vessel east of the Isle of Arran. ?” — Coastguard spokesperson
- “Two HM Coastguard helicopters and an HM Coastguard airplane were sent to search as well as Coastguard Rescue Teams from Arran, Ayr, Ardrossan and Greenock, plus RNLI lifeboats from Girvan and Campbeltown.” — An HM Coastguard spokesperson
- “Girvan RNLI launched just before 11pm on Sunday 18 October, and Campbeltown RNLI launched shortly after midnight, to support HM Coastguard in a search for a missing person overboard from a passenger vessel east of the Isle of Arran.” — An RNLI spokesperson
- “CalMac and the crew from MV Caledonian Isles are assisting Police Scotland and HM Coastguard with an ongoing enquiry regarding a missing person.” — Caledonian MacBrayne, spokesperson
- “MV Caledonian Isles will resume service with the 12:30 sailing from Ardrossan.” — CalMac spokesperson
What’s Next
CalMac announced that MV Caledonian Isles will resume service with the 12:30 sailing from Ardrossan, though further disruptions remain possible if crew rest requirements persist or new information emerges about the missing person.