CalMac crew successfully rescued a passenger reported overboard from MV Caledonian Isles before an alleged security threat forced the evacuation of the ferry and part of Ardrossan harbour.
The incident began during the vessel’s scheduled 4.40pm sailing from Brodick on the Isle of Arran to Ardrossan on Friday, 21 August 2026.
CalMac said a person was reported in the water at approximately 5.30pm. The ferry’s crew launched its Fast Rescue Craft and successfully recovered the passenger from the sea.
Coastguard and RNLI crews deployed
HM Coastguard said it attended an incident off Ardrossan at approximately 5.25pm. Coastguard Rescue Teams from Largs and Ardrossan were sent to the scene alongside the Troon RNLI lifeboat.
Police Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service also attended.
The successful recovery demonstrates the role of trained crew, immediately available rescue equipment and coordination between a passenger vessel and shore-based emergency services during a man-overboard response.
Security protocols activated
Following the rescue, a security threat was allegedly made aboard the vessel. CalMac said the crew was warned that a bomb was on board and immediately activated its emergency procedures.
Those procedures included a thorough search of the ferry and arrangements to remove passengers once Caledonian Isles reached Ardrossan.
A total of 329 passengers disembarked from the vessel on foot. Passengers, port employees and customers who had also been evacuated from the harbour were directed to a nearby supermarket car park while police dealt with the incident.
Police say threat was not credible
Police Scotland said officers were informed at approximately 5.45pm that a man had gone overboard from the vessel and had caused a disturbance and made threats after being rescued by staff.
A 23-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident. Police said enquiries were continuing.
Officers subsequently established that the threats were not credible. Police said the incident had concluded and there was no threat to the wider public.
The arrest forms part of an ongoing police enquiry and does not itself establish guilt.
Remaining Ardrossan sailings cancelled
CalMac cancelled the remaining scheduled Friday evening services between Ardrossan and Brodick while the incident was handled and the vessel’s crew was debriefed. Emergency equipment used during the response also had to be replenished.
Customers holding affected reservations were contacted by the ferry operator.
CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison described the incident as a fast-moving situation and thanked the vessel’s crew, Ardrossan port employees and the emergency services for their response.
By Saturday morning, CalMac’s service-status page listed the Ardrossan–Brodick route as operating normally. Passengers should nevertheless check the live status page before travelling because ferry schedules can change.
Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran
MV Caledonian Isles operates CalMac’s passenger and vehicle service between Ardrossan on the North Ayrshire coast and Brodick on the Isle of Arran.
The incident concerns a ferry rather than a cruise ship, but it is relevant to the wider passenger-shipping industry because it involved a successful rescue at sea, the activation of onboard security protocols, a controlled evacuation and the management of subsequent service disruption.