Arrow on target to take over Stornoway freight ferry duties

1 November 2023

CalMac’s chartered ferry for the Stornoway freight service is ploughing her way north through a force eight gale.

MV Arrow has been hired to cover the Stornoway - Ullapool route for the next two weeks while MV Loch Seaforth remains at her annual overhaul on the Mersey.

She is due to arrive in Lewis tonight (Wednesday) after plotting an indirect course from Larne, through the Sound of Mull and hugging the coast in the lee of strong easterly winds.

The Arrow is scheduled to commence sailings on Thursday, operating a six day a week overnight service.

Currently filling in for the service is MV Hebridean Isles - which fits the linkspan unlike the larger MV Alfred - but has suffered a series of weather disruption and cancellations. The MV Hebridean Isles is expected to finish her stint on Thursday with a run early on Thursday morning.

The Arrow will not be able to cover passenger sailings if MV Isle of Lewis sailings are cancelled as she is a freight vessel.

MV Arrow is to carry lorries and haulage during her absence until 15 November which overlaps with extra pressure on the Stornoway route when the Harris - Skye ferry service is cancelled during Uig pier construction works.

She has been called in as CalMac has run out of ships during its depleted fleet drydocking period.

Requisitioning the much larger Arrow provides confidence of transporting haulage to and from the island in conjunction with MV Isle of Lewis which will operate the passenger service.

All ferry sailings for Tarbert are axed until mid-December during the Skye triangle closure period, with traffic detoured north, creating additional strain on the Stornoway - Ullapool service.

CalMac ruled out leasing the Arrow for the full duration of the Uig outage.