MV Isle of Arran is to leave Stornoway for a more sheltered route following a problem with her stabilisers late last night.
MV Hebridean Isles will take over the freight run, heading north after forecast rough weather passes.
The service is expected to be off until Saturday.
The Arran cancelled her overnight timetable while at sea, giving lorry drivers waiting on the quayside just an hour’s warning. The disruption left trucks carrying foodstuffs and supplies stranded in Ullapool.
The Heb Isles which is currently serving Colonsay and Islay is the regular winter freight relief on the Stornoway - Ullapool service.
She has roughly the same capacity - about four to five lorries - as the Arran, significantly less than the Loch Seaforth.
Finlay MacRae, head of operations for Cal Mac, said: “The MV Hebridean Isles is being moved from Islay to support freight runs on the Ullapool-Stornoway route.
“The MV Isle of Arran has a technical issue which means that she is being redeployed to a less exposed route elsewhere in the network.
“We are in close contact with local hauliers about the situation and are working with them to ensure freight is moved as required.”
Regular Stornoway vessel, MV Loch Seaforth, is out of action with major repairs being undertake on her twin engines. She is not expected back until 18 May.
Castlebay has lost the MV Isle of Lewis until further notice to operate the Stornoway daytime passenger runs.
Stornoway relief freight ferry being despatched to calmer waters
5 May 2021