MV Clansman may be pulled off her Inner Hebrides’ timetable to cover a direct Oban-
CalMac is currently juggling potential options for MV Clansman to operate a service to Lochboisdale on Saturday, returning to Oban the following day, Sunday.
She would be the first ferry to dock at the pier in three weeks.
South Uist has been without a service since 24 September when corroded linkspan wires required replacement, knocking the berthing structure out of action for a fortnight.
Adverse weather and an unexpected steel corrosion issue then prevented MV Lord of the Isles from operating at all.
The ship is now heading for the nearest available dry dock for urgent repairs.
Following a tranche of repair work, further investigations uncovered more sections of thinned steelwork which left no option but to replace weakened plates.
It appears steelwork on the underwater part of her hull is corroded to the extent removal of existing steel and welding on a stronger, thicker new section is required.
Many dry docks are currently busy, including the Dales yards in Scotland so the Loti has been despatched to Birkenhead near Liverpool to get started on the work.
She is booked in for Friday morning, the earliest date given by Cammell Laird which operates the River Mersey facility.
Finlay MacRae, Head of Operations for CalMac, said: “We are very sorry about this latest disruption and the impact that this will have on the South Uist community.
“We are working hard to minimise disruption but unfortunately, our services are completely stretched due to annual overhaul, high demand across the network and recovery from disruption on Islay services this week, and we do not have any options when it comes to source a replacement vessel.
“All sailings to and from Lochboisdale on Thursday and Friday have been cancelled and alternative options for this weekend are being investigated.”
The shipping company also plans to amend the Sound of Barra timetable on Friday to provide a connection with the Castlebay – Oban service.
Capacity on the Lochmaddy -
Mr Macrae said: “We are in the process of contacting booked customers and offering them alternative sailings, while essential services such as food and medical deliveries will be prioritised via other routes.”
“We regret this impacting at school holiday time and Mòd week and know many will have plans which are now more difficult, and would ask that anyone with difficulties speaks with us and we will do our very best to seek a solution.”
For Friday an amended timetable will operate on the Sound of Barra to allow traffic to travel from Uist to Barra to catch MV Isle of Lewis at Castlebay for her sailing to Oban.
The connecting service will depart Eriskay at 5.15am. However,space on the Sound of Barra service is extremely limited as a smaller vessel is temporarily operating the link .
There is also availability from Lochmaddy to Uig late morning to Skye.
Another alternative route is available via the Sound of Harris and Tarbert to Uig services. Space is available on the late afternoon sailing departing Tarbert, arriving in Uig at 6pm. Sound of Harris sailings departing Berneray in the first part of the day will allow onwards travel to Tarbert for this sailing.
South bound alternative options for travel to Uist is the MV Hebrides leaving Skye in the morning and teatime.
MV Clansman earmarked to provide first ferry sailing for South Uist in three weeks
13 October 2022
