Harbours upgrade plans

Plans to rebuild three harbours to accommodate the new £49 million ferry on the Skye triangle route are being discussed at public information sessions this week.

The MV Hebrides is set to be replaced by a newly constructed 102-metre long “green” dual fuel ship. She will use the cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) though her engines can also operate on marine diesel.

Building work on the vessel at the Ferguson Marine yard on the Clyde has dramatically slowed down to the point she will not be ready for service until the summer of 2020.

Government agency Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) will own the vessel - which will be larger and more powerful than the Hebrides - and lease her to Cal Mac.

With a bigger bulk, the new ferry would put extra strain on the aging piers during berthing - particularly in bad weather - so each harbour is being upgraded.

The piers at Lochmaddy and Tarbert have to be reconstructed and strengthened.

Similar work is to be carried out at Uig and a new linkspan installed.

CMAL said the detailed designs for the improvements are “progressing well.”

Waiting areas for vehicles will be expanded, ticket offices rebuilt, and the seabed dredged.

Part of the shoreline will be reclaimed from the sea to enlarge the working area for ferry traffic.

Tarbert pier is owned by CMAL while the Lochmaddy ferry terminal belongs to the comhairle. Highland Council owns Uig harbour.

The drop-in public events are open between 4pm and 7pm in Tarbert Community Centre on Tuesday and Lochmaddy Hall on Wednesday.

Progress on revamping harbours for new ferry

10 September 2018