The Stornoway ferry service will restart this evening with the successful repair of MV Loch Seaforth.
The ship undertook extensive tests of her repaired engine control management system at sea in Loch Broom from lunchtime today.
Hundreds of travellers and vehicles have been impacted since the ferry broke down on Monday.
Sailings for both North and South Uist are also affected with timetables changed to accommodate a focus on detouring disrupted Stornoway traffic through Skye and Harris.
Robbie Drummond, chief executive of CalMac, said: “Following a set of sea trials early this afternoon, MV Loch Seaforth will return to normal service, starting with the timetabled .5.30pm from Ullapool this evening.
“The amended timetables for Lochboisdale and Tarbert will still operate tomorrow to help manage traffic from previous cancellations.”
He explained: “A fault with the sensor feeds and control cards within the vessel propulsion control and monitoring system were identified through detailed diagnostics by the vessel engineers working round the clock, supported by specialist contractors.
“These components were replaced and tested through sea trials, where all modes of operation were successfully proven on completion of repairs, confirming the problem has been resolved.”
Specialist engineers from Finnish company, Wartsila, which manufactured the engines, were commissioned in a bid to solve the mystery of the MV Loch Seaforth’s breakdown.
They arrived at Ullapool yesterday evening to assist in pinpointing the cause of the defect.
New components were fitted and tested today.
The technical issue emerged on the Seaforth’s run from Stornoway to Ullapool on Monday afternoon.
She diverted off course just before entering the narrow section of Loch Broom, to carry out a controlled figure-
As the issue impacted the vessel’s performance, she cautiously navigated through the sea loch on the approach to the confined area at the pier.
The vessel docked at the wharf, going in stern-
MV Loch Seaforth returns to service
12 April 2023
