The isle of Mull was rescued from being completely cut off by strike action today by boat charter company.
Just a third of CalMac services are operating today after a walkout by workers covered by the Rail and Maritime Transport union.
But an Oban-based boat charter company offered an alternative service to Mull running at the same times as the ferry would have.
Coastal Connection operates three rigid inflatable boats (Ribs) and is spending the day making trips between Oban and Craignure.
Cameron Smith, of Coastal Connection, said: “We have a boat doing the same timetable as the ferry and running over to Craignure.
“The rib can only take 12 people at a time so its only a drop in the ocean compared to the 1,000 people the Isle of Mull ferry can take, but the tides were right and we had a boat free, so we thought we might as well help a few people out.
“We haven’t been as busy as I thought we might, it has just been groups of five, six, seven and eight. But it lets people get off Mull and back home.
“Our passengers’ opinions about the strike have been very mixed. Some say they understand the strikers have got to do something, others take a different line and others don’t understand what they are striking about. We are getting a whole range of opinions.”