From 20 April to 18 May 2015, "Isle of Lewis" operated a temporary service for vehicles and passengers from Stornoway to Uig whilst the 42-year-old linkspan at Ullapool was replaced with a new two-lane design that improves loading and unloading. "Clipper Ranger" ran a freight service from Stornoway to Uig in addition, and required to have her stern ramp modified for this. ran from Stornoway to Ullapool as normal, but on a passenger-only basis. The linkspan works were completed early, on 15 May, although it did not reopen for business until 18 May as planned. "Isle of Lewis" then carried out a series of special sailings between Oban and Castlebay between and 24 and 27 June - in response to strike action by RMT union members of CalMac on 26 June which caused severe disruption across the whole network. One of "Isle of Lewis" special crossings included a 0046 from Oban to Castlebay on 27 June to transport runners to the annual 'Barrathon' marathon, 'saving' that event from cancellation as a result of the disruption caused by the strike.