In March 2016, "Isle of Lewis" began a new phase of her life, serving Oban and Castlebay on Barra year-round, which allowed to commence a daily return service between Lochboisdale and Mallaig, thus ending South Uist's direct link to Oban. With "Isle of Lewis" deployment there, the Isle of Barra receives a daily dedicated service. These summer arrangements, announced by Transport Scotland, are likely to be a stop-gap until the new is commissioned at Arran, and Hull 802 is commissioned on the Uig-Lochmaddy/Tarbert services. On her first official day on the Barra service, 25 March 2016, "Isle of Lewis" completed all of her sailings in spite of an amber alert of adverse weather and swell conditions.