Hebrides News

Ferry services on the Skye triangle route are in upheaval this weekend following an additional delay holding back the relief vessel.

MV Clansman which was due to cover the link and is already a week late in picking up sailings has suffered a two day delay forcing CalMac to draw up a contingency plan and swap ships in order to provide a service, albeit at diminished levels.

Currently, MV Alfred, on charter from Pentland Ferries for to depart for her own overhaul, it has been necessary to make some changes to vessel deployments and timetables for the coming weekend.

MV Alfred will operate one return service from Lochmaddy to Uig on Saturday morning before she departs for her own overhaul.

Services for Tarbert on Saturday and Sunday are cancelled with traffic being diverted via MV Loch Seaforth on the Stornoway - Ullapool route.

MV Alfred will operate a return trip between Lochmaddy -  and Uig on Saturday morning before her final departure from the area.  

Problems preventing a Uist - Skye service arise as relief vessel, MV Hebridean Isles (Heb Isles), no longer fits at Lochmaddy pier following upgrades to the structure. It is also unknown if she is compatible with the new pier in Uig as the vessel has not undertaken berthing trials.

The Heb Isles will be removed from her South Uist relief service to operate one return sailing from Lochboisdale to Ullapool on Sunday, departing South Uist at 7am.  

In order to provide a service to Uist on Sunday, MV Hebridean Isles will operate solely for Uist traffic and will divert to Ullapool to allow freight to travel.

In addition, on Saturday MV Isle of Mull will be removed from the Craignure route to provide a Oban - Barra run, leaving the mainland at 1pm.  The Castlebay to Lochboisdale service has been cancelled.

On Sunday, the Isle of Mull will depart Castlebay at 5.35am to the mainland. The Oban to Castlebay service has been cancelled.  

CalMac expressed apologies for the disruption which comes on the February school weekend.

“We are aware of the impact to our customers and communities,” said the shipping operator.

Normal service with the MV Clansman is - at present - expected to resume on Monday 19th February. Extended work on the ship continues at Liverpool.   

Dry dock delays leads to weekend cancellations and disruption for Western Isles communities  

15 February 2024