Ferry operator CalMac is urging people to be respectful to its frontline staff as it struggles to deal with weather disrupted ferry services for Barra.
Castlebay ferry, MV Isle of Lewis, was diverted as a fresh spell of wild weather, with strong gusts and high waves battering the west coast.
Earlier, CalMac told islanders that wind direction and speed in the coming days does not provide for a safe berth for the vessel in Castlebay.
In any case, adverse forecast prevented a suitable weather window today (Thursday) for a full return service for Barra.
Her normal mainland port of Oban serves a number of islands and is congested with only two ferry piers, ruling out the chances of berthing overnight.
As the vessel is too big to stay overnight at other piers in the network, the “only safe option” is Stornoway. The ship carried passengers and vehicles to the north west port of Ullapool today and will tie up in Stornoway harbour until leaving early on Saturday morning to pick up traffic at Ullapool for a voyage back down to Castlebay.
MV Isle of Lewis will not carry traffic between Stornoway and Ullapool insists the shipping operator.
Robbie Drummond, chief executive of CalMac, said: “It is concerning to hear reports that frontline staff are facing abuse due to cancellations which are weather related and absolutely beyond our control.
Such conduct “is not acceptable” he stressed.
“I would urge those responsible to respect our teams who are trying to help them.”
Mr Drummond said crews are working in horrendous weather and doing their utmost to support customers and to keep services running.
“They are professional, highly trained and the majority live in the communities we serve.”
He pointed out: “They are legally responsible for the safety of crews and passengers so often need to make difficult and fast-
“When bad weather impacts our services, we are flexible and use weather windows or alternative ports where possible to carry passengers whenever it is safe to do so.”
He explained the port of Oban is “very restricted for berthing with only two main berths, complicated to managing normal timetables, and a major restricting factor when we seek alternative options to manage weather disruptions.”
Castlebay is currently without a direct service to Oban “due to poor weather, which is why temporary alternatives for Barra customers are in place.”
A period of intensely poor weather, including three storms, has “severely affected” all routes across the network.
Barra ferry, MV Isle of Lewis, is currently in Stornoway harbour because there was “no berthing alternative available.”
The intention was for the vessel to sail to Oban and also berth there which would allow for a crew change, but this was not possible due to a lack of space, so the crew change was carried out in Ullapool, said CalMac.
Local hauliers and food suppliers were advised of these temporary changes “as soon as possible.”
CalMac will keep in regular contact with them to ensure that the supply chain is maintained, said Mr Drummond.
He highlighted: “MV Isle of Lewis is not delivering services on the Stornoway -
The vessel departed from Ullapool earlier today (Thursday) to lay over in Stornoway as planned with crew only onboard.
The ship will reposition back from Stornoway to Ullapool on Saturday morning to pick up the Barra service without passengers or traffic from Stornoway.
Mr Drummond concluded: “We understand that this is a very challenging and difficult time for customers who have seen multiple disruptions over a prolonged period of consecutive named storm fronts, with travel and supply chain disrupted outside of our control.
“We constantly look at options to resume services and will do this whenever there’s a weather window and it is safe to travel.”
Abuse of frontline CalMac staff is ‘unacceptable’
1 February 2024
