CalMac chartered catamaran ferry, MV Alfred, earmarked for Stornoway relief stint

Uncertainty surrounds the Stornoway - Ullapool ferry service when MV Loch Seaforth is absent for dry docking.

Two chartered vessels - MV Alfred and MV Arrow - are earmarked to operate the freight runs during separate stints between the end of October and mid-November.

While MV Isle of Lewis will be transferred from Barra to deliver the Stornoway passenger service, CalMac has run out of ships of its own to cover the haulage sailings.

The Arrow appears to have been the favoured choice for the whole assignment from 21 October to 15 November but she is only available for hire for the second half of the period.

MV Alfred will test out the pier at Stornoway for size at the end of this month, pencilled in for 28 September.

But there is no guarantee she will fit at the Stornoway berth as she has never before docked in the harbour.

Given the presence of doubt, bookings for the first ten days of the winter timetable will remain closed on the route until plans are confirmed, hopefully by 30 September.

If the berthing trial works out, the 84-metre long catamaran will operate alongside MV Isle of Lewis, delivering one freight return sailing per day from 21 October to 1 November. Then the Arrow takes over from the Alfred.

However, if the outcome is unsuccessful, Stornoway will be cut to a single return passenger service daily instead of two by the MV Isle of Lewis until the Arrow appears on station.

CalMac says there no alternative vessels are available.

The shipping company explained: “We are currently planning for MV Alfred to operate the freight service on this route from 21 October – 1 November, and berthing trials will be carried out at the end of September, once the vessel has finished on Ardrossan-Brodick.

“If the trials are unsuccessful, we will operate MV Isle of Lewis with one Ro-PAX and one freight leg per day for this period.

“For the period 2 – 14 November, MV Arrow will operate the freight service alongside MV Isle of Lewis. MV Arrow is not available to provide support any earlier.”

During trials the Alfred will come alongside the pier check how well she lines up with the linkspan.

She will have to dock stern-to as she does not have a bow ramp.

That requires a different approach compared to CalMac’s regular vessels as she will have to turn 180 degrees first before manoeuvring towards the berth.

The Alfred is in the middle of a nine month hire from Orkney for a price exceeding £1 million a month until January at least to strengthen CalMac’s aging fleet.

Talks over extending her loan into the spring have taken place though no agreement has been settled, Hebrides News understands.

MV Isle of Mull is to cover the Barra - Oban service when MV Isle of Lewis is shifted to Stornoway.

Ferry roulette: Reduced ferry sailings for Stornoway if MV Alfred can’t fit berth

14 September 2023