Defects causing a leak in CalMac’s beleaguered South Uist ferry have been repaired at last and the vessel is heading home in anticipation of picking up her timetable tomorrow (Saturday).
No passengers or vehicles are being carried on MV Lord of the Isles’ repositioning voyage out of Oban.
Cancellation of a tentative commercial afternoon sailing was announced this (Friday) morning after CalMac revealed further repairs were required to resolve her leaking bow visor.
In any case bookings were expected to be low with ferry-worn travellers wary of being
stranded in Oban, favouring the alternative of a lengthy detour via Skye and Lochmaddy
to get to their destination.
The Loti departed the Liverpool area last weekend following her annual overhaul where steel work renewal work was undertaken on the visor. A new rubber seal was installed and tested successfully in port.
The bow visor leak emerged at sea with initial repairs in Oban focusing on the seal.
Further inspection revealed a steel defect which has now been permanently fixed.
The ship docked at the lighthouse wharf in Oban during repairs to avoid blocking the usual CalMac piers for working ferries.
The Loti intends to restart CalMac services for Lochbisdale on Saturday with a return sailing to Mallaig.
Sailings should have resumed on the route on St Andrews day, a fortnight ago. South Uist has endured poor service over recent years as the Loti is often pulled away to other islands as a direct consequence of government failure to provide a sufficient number of suitable vessels to the CalMac’s fleet.
The Loti will be withdrawn again in just three weeks to cover the Coll, Tiree and Colonsay services while MV Clansman heads off to drydock. Assignment of a replacement ship in January for South Uist to operate a skeleton service shared with Barra depends upon the progress of CalMac’s drydocking schedule.
CalMac’s MV Lord of the Isles is finally homeward bound
13 December 2024
