Paddleboarders urged to give ferry a wide berth to avoid tragedy
16 August 2022
A ferry seaman has warned how personal water sport users are putting themselves in danger by getting too close to the Eriskay ferry.
CalMac’s inter-
Paddle boarders and kayakers have been spotted sometimes just metres away from the moving vessel with a number of close encounters between the ferry and water users at Eriskay pier.
Some were not wearing a buoyancy aid and in one case a child was lying stretched out on a board. Paddlers can be notoriously difficult to spot from the bridge of a ship, particularly when wearing dark colourer kit.
In an effort to “avoid a tragedy” a crewman posted an appeal on social media.
He said: “This is a message about safety around ferries.
“On several occasions yesterday and again today several water sports users have approached or caused the ferry to take action to avoid an incident at Eriskay ferry terminal.”
He highlighted how “dangerous it is to approach the ferry with its propulsion units in operation.”
While the breakwater at Eriskay ferry port provides a semi-
