MV Hebrides cleared to return to service after repairs completed

Repairs to Skye triangle ferry, MV Hebrides, have been completed successfully and the vessel will return to normal service tomorrow (Monday) morning .

The ship was taken to Greenock on Friday after being holed near her waterline after hitting the Lochmaddy pier during berthing on Wednesday night.

Nobody was injured in the incident which left a gash on her hull’s lower starboard side and passengers disembarked as normal. CalMac has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the collision.

CalMac instructed the shipyard to work round-the-clock over the weekend to enable a fast turnaround to get the vessel back in action. The damaged section of her hull was cut out and replaced with new steel plates while a buckled internal structural frame was repaired.

If structural damage had been worse then she would have been delayed for longer.

Harris and Lochmaddy ferry bookings were suspended for over a week after CalMac feared delay lengthy repairs.

CalMac will now recommence reservation on both routes from tomorrow afternoon.

The Hebrides departed the James Watt dock late afternoon and will resume sailings out of Uig from 9.30am tomorrow.

Relief ship, MV Hebridean Isles, will still operate the amended 7am Lochmaddy to Uig run.

Vessels redeployed to cover the Heb’s absence will now return to their designated routes as soon as possible.

This includes the return of a two-vessel service on the Ardrossan-Brodick route from Tuesday, and the reinstatement of the Ardrossan-Campbeltown service.

MV Hebridean Isles will return to the Islay route so that a full service can be reinstated on the Ardrossan-Brodick route.

Any passengers with bookings who were affected by the withdrawal of MV Hebrides will be contacted to advise that sailings will be reinstated. Bookings will reopen from Monday afternoon.

South Uist vessel, MV Lord of the Isles, remains in dock and repairs to her car deck fire-fighting equipment are “progressing well,” said CalMac.

A CalMac spokeswoman said: “This was a significant disruption for our communities, and we sincerely apologise for this at what was already a very difficult time for them.”

She said the company is “extremely grateful” for their support and understanding as CalMac dealt with the absence of both Uist two ferries at the same time.

“Our port teams continue to work closely with customers to ensure that their travel plans are accommodated over the coming days.”

MV Hebrides cleared to return to service after repairs completed

22 May 2022