Hebrides  News

Contact newsdesk on:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

Classified adverts   I   Jobs                               

 Local Services     

Travel disruptions as ferry sent to Liverpool repair yard            27/5/14

Ferry services to Barra and South Uist face disruption until the start of next week after a ship was taken out of service for urgent repairs.

The MV Lord of the Isles is being despatched to a drydock in Liverpool.

A fault in her hull was discovered yesterday (Tues) forcing her to cancel all sailings.

The ferry was stuck in Oban as rushed arrangements were made to find a ship yard able to make the repairs at short notice.

The 85-metre ship is now heading to the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead, near Liverpool. It is hoped she will return for the start of next week.

 

It is believed the ship needs to go into drydock so her underwater structure can be examined to assess the extent of the fault.

 

Cal Mac said the 85-metre ship “is being taken out of service for essential hull repairs.”

 

Problems or damage in her steel structure were picked up as part of a routine inspection, said the shipping company.

 

As Barra was without its lifeline ship, a Cal Mac boss apparently had to change his travel plans and was forced to take a flight instead of his planned ferry trip to Barra today.

 

The MV Clansman will provide some sailings to Barra in the coming days but its unclear when a ferry will next call into South Uist.

 

The Lord of the Isles will not be allowed to carry passengers or undertake commercial sailings until the problem is fixed.

 

The MV Isles of Mull stepped in last night (Tues) to take stranded passengers to South Uist.

 

She departed Oban around 8pm and was due to dock in Lochboisdale at 1.30am this morning (Wed).

 

The call-in to Castlebay was cancelled so Barra passengers had no choice but to undertake an island-hopping diversion before getting home.

 

They have to stay drive through South Uist and Eriskay and wait for a small ferry, MV Loch Alainn, to cross the Sound of Barra.

 

It is unclear if the connecting ferry would sail at 2am for the disrupted traffic but Cal Mac said “there may be additional sailings on the Barra - Eriskay route if needed.“

 

Travellers are advised to call Cal Mac offices in Oban or Lochboisdale.

 

In addition, this morning’s (Wed) mainland-bound sailings between Barra and Oban have been cancelled.

 

Mainland-bound travellers need to catch the 1.40am departure out of Lochboisdale for a 7am mainland arrival.