Due to strong winds up to 50mph the South Uist service is cancelled today. Diverting
the vessel to Mallaig was ruled out due to a very tight weather window this morning
combined with berth availability at the port. Tuesday’s service is liable to disruption
or cancellation at short notice.
Virtually all sailings are cancelled on all legs of the Skye triangle route after
MV Hebrides sustained a fault with her starboard engine. Repairs were later completed
and the vessel loaded traffic from Tarbert - where she docked last night - to Uig
in Skye. The vessel will operate a delayed sailing from Uig to North Uist this afternoon
where she will tie up for the remainder of the day. Car deck space is extremely limited
for today.
The lunchtime sailing from Eriskay will now depart at 12.30pm, half an hour earlier
than timetabled. All other sailings remain at a heightened risk of disruption or
cancellation at short notice. Tomorrow’s schedule is liable to disruption with afternoon
sailings at a higher risk. In addition, the possibility of disruption hangs over
the service this week even without bad weather as a technical issue dogs MV Loch
Alainn’s main engine.
With 60mph gusts forecast off Barra later, MV Isle of Lewis departed Castlebay at
dawn in a bid to run ahead of the bad weather.
Relief vessel, MV Loch Bhrusda, has brought its early afternoon return sailings forward
by an hour on the Sound of Harris route. This will be the last service of the day.
MV Loch Seaforth’s teatime departure from Ullapool is cancelled and neither will
her late night freight run out of Stornoway operate. The ship may remain on the mainland
side if the weather doesn’t abate overnight.
Western Isles ferry sailings cancelled and disrupted in force eight gale
2 June 2025