CalMac’s plans for Skye triangle ferry shutdown

25 August 2023

Caledonian MacBrayne has drawn up plans for ferry services during the forthcoming shutdown of Uig pier in Skye - the mainland port for ferries serving Harris and North Uist.

CalMac says its proposals for the period of disruption incorporates feedback from the community and lessons gathered from the first closure earlier this year.

Potential delays to the project could result in the harbour remaining closed over the Christmas period when construction are on holiday.

Uig outage ferry changes

MV Hebrides operates one return per day Lochmaddy - Ullapool
No service will be provided between Ullapool - Tarbert
Tarbert traffic will be redirected via Stornoway - Ullapool service
Shuttle buses to transport passengers between Tarbert - Stornoway/ Uig - Ullapool (if required)
Increased frequency on Lochboisdale - Mallaig/Oban service on occasion if vessel availability allows
MV Arrow will only be chartered for the duration of MV Loch Seaforth overhaul.

Chartered catamaran ferry, MV Alfred, may be deployed as support at times capacity is under strain, provided she is not needed for breakdowns or backlogs elsewhere on the CalMac network.

Freight vessel MV Arrow will be hired for two weeks or so for the Stornoway freight service when MV Isle of Lewis stands in during MV Loch Seaforth overhaul.

CalMac said: “Due to the low utilisation during the first closure, it is not economically justifiable to charter (MV Arrow) to provide network resilience” for the full Uig closure period.

Harris arrangements

Tarbert traffic will be redirected to the Stornoway - Ullapool service as no ferry service will be provided for Harris under the outage plan. CalMac said capacity volumes on the Stornoway link have “been assessed and are considered feasible.”

The Uig linkspan will be out of action for car ferries. Suggestions for Ullapool to Tarbert sailings have been ruled out.

Transport for displaced Tarbert/Uig - Uig/Lochmaddy foot passengers will be provided. Shuttle buses will be arranged to transport passengers between Tarbert and Stornoway as well as Uig - Ullapool if required

An additional bus connection to the last Stornoway arrival will be provided for this closure.

Lochmaddy – Tarbert to be considered as an available contingency during the second closure. However, a regular service to Tarbert will not be provided due to the additional passage time involved in operating to both ports.

Lochmaddy arrangements

No change from first closure period.

Service may be impacted on 10 December when the vessel is pencilled in to test out berthing and loading at the new infrastructure at Uig.

The extended passage time between North Uist and Ullapool is four and a half hours.

One return sailing between North Uist and Ullapool each day. Departs Lochmaddy at 5.30am. Vessel leaves Ullapool at 11am to arrive Lochmaddy at 3.30pm. Times are 30 minutes later on Sundays.

Lochboisdale arrangements

No change from first closure.

During overhaul relief periods, when MV Isle of Mull is on the route the service expected to operate a daily return from Oban.

Stornoway timetable

Same level of service but with amended timings to accommodate MV Hebrides

Timings will change when MV Isle of Lewis takes over the route during MV Loch Seaforth’s drydock period.

Stornoway departure times Monday to Friday are 6am and 1pm. CityLink bus timetable are to reflect changed Ullapool arrival times.

Berneray-Leverburgh

No change from first closure

An additional daily return Monday - Saturday will be provided (10:35 from Berneray and 11:45 from Leverburgh). This sailing will operate on a request basis to cater to demand.

Fares

Passengers using the Lochmaddy/Ullapool service will not pay higher fares.

Travellers diverted to Stornoway - Ullapool, Lochboisdale - Oban/Mallaig will be offered equalised fares via retrospective refunds.

Progress is being made with the new berth