Castlebay ferry, MV Isle of Lewis, is to shift to Stornoway for a safe harbour during a fresh round of incoming wild weather.
CalMac said berthing in Castlebay during this spell of (adverse) weather risks damage to vessel and could delay further service if repairs were required.
As a result her sailings to Oban are cancelled up to the weekend
Sailings were cancelled today (Wednesday) due to heavy seas and very strong winds.
The ferry does not normally operate on Thursdays over winter but tomorrow she will undertake an alternative one-
CalMac said the prevailing wind directions and speed in the coming days does not provide a safe berth in Castlebay.
“The first choice would’ve been to operate to Oban and lay there overnight, however .. Oban is very congested and there is not an overnight berth available for her.”
Therefore, the only safe option for the vessel is for her to operate to Ullapool and lie over in Stornoway and back down to Castlebay via Ullapool thereafter.
“I’m sure you would agree that the last thing any of us would want is for the ship to lie in Castlebay and risk damage to either the ship or the pier resulting in severe disruption to the islands for a prolonged period of time.
“I appreciate this is not the ideal option for Barra, but as the captain deems it the safest option, I’m sure you will agree this would be the preference to the alternative possibility of damage and prolonged disruption.”
Shellfish exporter, Barratlantic, is sending lorries on a long diversion northward from the central belt to Skye to catch the Lochmaddy ferry on Thursday and Friday and then down through Uist and Benbecula and over the Sound of Barra.
In the light of very recent painful experiences of empty shop shelves and fresh food shortages on the island after no ferry for over a week due to bad weather, the local Co-
Barra ferry shifting to Stornoway for safe berth
31 January 2024
