Delays to the annual overhaul of MV Bute saw the enforced return of the much smaller 'streaker', MV Saturn, to the service at the start of the holiday weekend.

CalMac's winter relief vessel, MV Coruisk, was forced to leave the route on Wednesday morning in order to be ready to take up the route between Mallaig and Skye when the company's summer timetable begins on Friday.

But the Bute was not ready to return to the busy Wemyss Bay run in time for the switchover, hence the return of the Saturn to the route for which she was built 30 years ago.

However the removal in January of the side-loading linkspan at Rothesay, meant the Saturn was only able to load and unload by her stern ramp.

Happily, the older - and smaller - vessel coped admirably with the traffic until the Bute finally returned to service late on Friday afternoon.

But the potential for disruption remained in the shape of the ongoing re-routing of one sailing each evening to Gourock and the cancellation of a return from Wemyss Bay.

At present not even CalMac are certain what form this disruption will take: a press release on Wednesday afternoon warned only that "services at the end of the day are subject to disruption/cancellation at very short notice", with the extra services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in particular subject to change.

The company said in a statement: "As long as the 1945 from Rothesay can operate to Wemyss Bay, the 1900 sailing from Rothesay will go to Gourock. The 1945 from Wemyss Bay would be cancelled in that circumstance with the final sailing operating at 2040 from Wemyss Bay.

"Please note that where a 1945 sailing from Rothesay is not possible, the 1815 from Rothesay will go to Gourock and the 1900 from Wemyss Bay will be cancelled. In this circumstance, the 1900 from Rothesay and the 1945 from Wemyss Bay will be the last sailings.

"On Mondays to Thursdays, there will still be diversions to Gourock at 1815 and as a consequence, the 1900 from Wemyss Bay will be cancelled.

"Please be assured that CalMac is doing everything possible to minimise the impact of the disruption the overrun in the pier works is causing."

A spokesperson for Argyll and Bute Council, which owns and operates Rothesay pier, said: "The work is being progressed as quickly as possible to bring the second overnight berthing area into use as soon as possible.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused."

And the final straw? Yes, once again the passenger gangway at Rothesay has been in and out of action again this week, with foot passengers forced to board and disembark via the ferries' vehicle deck.