MV Isle of Mull will bypass Barra on her combined sailing tonight (Wednesday) said CalMac
Under an earlier revised schedule due to incoming bad weather, the vessel was to stop at Castlebay on a delayed sailing and remain there overnight instead of carrying on to South Uist.
Now CalMac has decided that the ship will operate direct to Lochboisdale instead of Castlebay.
There will be a connecting sailing on the Sound of Barra service to get Castlebay traffic to Barra.
CalMac says this is the only way to ensure travellers going to Barra and South Uist tonight make it home and that those booked on Thursday’s sailing are able to travel.
The reasoning is that if the vessel had gone to Castlebay it would not have continue to Lochboisdale due to extra passage time for adverse weather. Neither was there room for all the South Uist ferry traffic on the Sound of Barra ferry link this evening, some would have been left behind on Barra overnight.
In addition, CalMac says they would be unable to carry South Uist travellers on Thursday morning’s Sound of Barra sailings if the vessel was to stay overnight and depart from Castlebay in the morning.
Meanwhile, another rough crossing is expected on Thursday afternoon with a spell of gale force winds and adverse sea state on the cards. The lunchtime sailing departing Oban for Castlebay risks being delayed and the passage time may be increased.
Ferry switches port in change of plan
26 March 2025
