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On the busiest day of the year for the Ardrossan to Brodick crossing, port staff are dealing with delays and cancellations, while engineers struggle with a fault with MV Caledonian Isles’ engine. As queues build, port assistants Debra and Kirsty do their best to keep people happy. However, with no ETA on the engine fix, and limited information for the growing crowds, tensions are rising. Not only are there crowds of revellers hoping to make the journey for the annual Brodick Highland Games, but one of the event’s headlining bands - Kilbarchan Pipe Band - are also in the queue, along with the master of ceremonies and several heavy events competitors, who have been in training for the games for months. The games will be seriously affected without some of the main performers and participants, and it’s on CalMac to save the day,

In Oban, one of CalMac’s busiest hubs, we meet a selection of the port team during late summer as they manage a normal day at the port. Port managing duo Jill and Rhianna help with a busy Mull crossing while Alan and Andy tie up, load and let go various vessels as they manage the 30+ sailings that come and go during a day.

Elsewhere, it’s the first day of school for Mull islander Oscar as he leaves his primary school with a roll of only 19 to join a secondary school with over 1,000 pupils. This is no ordinary school commute, as he will take the ferry over to Oban to join Oban High School, and, instead of returning home every night, he will live in a hostel from Monday to Friday each week.

Meanehile, watchkeeping engineer Al works aboard the MV Coruisk, and he takes us through a day in his life aboard the ferry that operates between mainland Mallaig and Armadale on Skye.