MV Hebrides berthing trials at Skye pier

CalMac ferry tests upgraded Skye pier ahead of resuming Harris and Uist sailings

10 December 2023

CalMac’s Skye triangle ferry is due to test out the new pier at Skye for size today (Thursday).

MV Hebrides is scheduled to conduct berthing trials at Uig harbour this evening with a view to resuming sailings this weekend, weather permitting.

If all goes well the usual winter timetable for Tarbert and Lochmaddy will get underway on Saturday morning if weather conditions allow.

A new linkspan has been installed at Uig. Commissioning and load testing of the structure were completed last week.

► Photos: Skye ferry harbour construction works

A seven week closure due this second stage of redevelopment works resulted in the Skye triangle ferry service shutdown. All Tarbert sailings were cancelled. Uist traffic has been diverted via a longer temporary Lochmaddy - Ullapool route.

When ferry services restart, the vehicle marshalling area at Uig shall be in its ‘normal’ space. The new marshalling area will not open until January when a a revised traffic management plan will be in place.

Averse weather was responsible of part of a hold-up in progressing the works. Plans to reopen Uig harbour at the beginning of this week were postponed by several days.

Highland Council's contractor, RJ McLeod, has been working extra hours on the project which saw the pier shut to ferry traffic for the second time this year to enact upgrade and strengthening works.

The works during the present closure included the removal of the temporary bridge, existing linkspan, dolphins, bank-seat and temporary piles, completion of the fenders and installation and commissioning of the new linkspan.