Tiree's only petrol station caps purchases at £25 as ferry shortage cuts fuel supply

Key facts

• Crosspol Filling Station, Tiree's only petrol station, caps petrol purchases at £25.
• Ferry operator CalMac diverted the usual MV Clansman to the Uig–Tarbert route.
• The replacement vessel, MV Isle of Mull, is too small to carry a fuel tanker.
• CalMac temporarily used MV Lochnevis to deliver 17,000 litres of petrol on Tuesday.
• The delivery provides enough fuel for three to four weeks.
• CalMac admitted nearly a third of its Clyde and islands fleet is not operating.
• Phil Meyer of Tiree Community Development Trust warned patience is wearing thin.
• The trust may reserve remaining fuel for emergency services and essential workers.

Rationing on the Isle of Tiree

The only filling station on the Isle of Tiree has imposed a £25 cap on petrol purchases as fuel levels dwindle to near-empty. The community trust that runs Crosspol Filling Station took the measure to stretch remaining supplies after the island’s regular ferry service was disrupted. Phil Meyer of the Tiree Community Development Trust said the situation had reached a critical point. “We’ve got to the point where we are just about out of petrol,” he told reporters. “It would be fair to say that the patience and tolerance has started to wear thin for a lot of people.”

A ferry mismatch triggers the crisis

The shortage stems from ferry operator CalMac diverting the MV Clansman, which usually serves Tiree, to cover the route from Uig in Skye to Tarbert in Harris. In its place, CalMac deployed the smaller MV Isle of Mull, a vessel incapable of carrying a fuel tanker. Meyer explained that the trust was aware of potential supply issues when told the MV Isle of Mull would cover the Oban–Tiree route. Initially, the change was expected to last only a couple of weeks, and a recent petrol delivery had been made. But the disruption persisted, and supplies dwindled.

CalMac’s fleet woes deepen

The Tiree crisis comes about a month after CalMac admitted that nearly a third of its fleet serving the Clyde coast and islands was not operating. Many ferries have required unplanned repairs, while others are away for scheduled maintenance, causing widespread network disruption. A CalMac spokesperson said: “The Tiree service has been operated by a vessel with smaller capacity while there has been widespread network disruption. We are aware that this has led to problems with fuel deliveries to the island, and we are working closely with the local community to find a solution to this.”

Emergency delivery brings temporary relief

On Tuesday, CalMac diverted the MV Lochnevis from its small isles route to deliver a tanker carrying 17,000 litres of petrol to Tiree. The shipment is expected to last three to four weeks, buying time for a more permanent solution. Meyer noted that the trust had been raising the alarm as the situation worsened. If necessary, the trust said it would hold back remaining stock for emergency services and essential workers, underscoring the severity of the shortage.

Wider context: Ferry shortages across the islands

The disruption on Tiree is part of a broader pattern of ferry shortages affecting island communities. CalMac has warned that “almost every island” is facing disruption due to the shortage of vessels. The problems have dominated election campaigning in the region, with candidates pressed on how to restore reliable service. Earlier this month, CalMac said it was in a “better place” after a third ferry returned from repairs, but the Tiree situation shows the fragility of the network. The reliance on a single vessel for fuel delivery leaves communities vulnerable when substitutions are made without regard for cargo capacity.

What comes next for Tiree

With only three to four weeks of petrol from the emergency delivery, the clock is ticking for CalMac to restore a suitable vessel to the Tiree route. The community trust has made clear that a long-term solution is needed, not temporary fixes. Meyer’s comment that “it just kept happening” reflects a growing frustration among islanders who depend on regular fuel deliveries for daily life. The crisis highlights the precariousness of supply chains for remote communities and the outsized impact of ferry scheduling decisions.

The bottom line

• Tiree’s only petrol station imposed a £25 cap after the usual ferry was replaced by a vessel too small for a fuel tanker.
• CalMac diverted the MV Clansman to another route, leaving Tiree with the smaller MV Isle of Mull.
• An emergency delivery of 17,000 litres via MV Lochnevis provides three to four weeks of supply.
• Nearly a third of CalMac’s fleet is out of service due to repairs and maintenance.
• The trust may reserve remaining fuel for emergency services if the shortage continues.
• The crisis underscores the vulnerability of island communities to ferry network disruptions.