Passengers were stranded overnight in the remote Highlands when their ferry was cancelled and they were diverted to a crossing that could not cope with the extra traffic.
The drivers of 26 vehicles, who were hoping to get on the Lochaline to Fishnish ferry to Mull on Saturday evening, were sent to Kilchoan to catch the ferry to Tobermory.
However, they arrived just before the last ferry of the day at the Lochaber village and there were already vehicles queuing up to catch it.
Local resident Ricky Clark said there was “much arm-waving and debating between drivers and CalMac staff”.
He said: “They did manage to cram 11 cars onto the ferry with all the passengers being asked to leave the vehicles and board as foot passengers.
“This allowed the cars to be parked closely together to allow as many to board as possible.
“With 11 vehicles onboard, this left 45 vehicles with nowhere to go.”
He said the ferry eventually left, but immediately returned to pick up one last foot passenger who had been left behind in the confusion while parking his car.
He added that 13 vehicles were abandoned near Kilchoan pier for the night, with five remaining in their original places in the ferry queuing area.
Nine other drivers turned round and left the village on the Ardnamurchan peninsula after realising there was not going to be another crossing that evening.
Mr Clark said: “All accommodation here in Kilchoan was full, so at least 13 vehicles carrying who knows how many people were left without accommodation for the night.”
He added that he believed it had been a bad move to divert 26 vehicles from Lochaline to Kilchoan when the Lochaline ferry broke down on Saturday afternoon.
A CalMac spokesman said this situation had been the result of an unfortunate combination of events on the busiest day of the week.
He said: “The cancellation of the Lochaline-Fishnish service due to a technical problem and the Oban-Craignure sailings being fully booked led to traffic heading for Kilchoan-Tobermory, which is the only other non-bookable route to Mull.
“The vessel did what it could to cope, including taking passengers only and arranging an early sailing on Sunday to deliver their cars to them. “We regret any inconvenience caused.”