Ferry sent back to repair jittery steering 24/2/14
A ferry which risks going off course has been sent back to drydock for repairs just days after a major refit.
Problems hit Caledonian Macbrayne’s (Cal Mac) biggest ship within hours of leaving her annual overhaul.
Now the 20-
The MV Isle of Lewis which operates the Stornoway to Ullpool route was taken out of service after her first commercial sailing on Friday following a three week absence.
Hebrides News revealed last week she suffered rudder problems.
Inspections and repairs to her rudder require her to be taken out of the water.
She is presently in Ullapool and has to move off the pier to let a replacement ferry berth.
Arrangements are being made for the MV Isle of Lewis to return to drydock in Birkenhead,
by Liverpool -
However, the problem is getting there, particularly steaming through the busy shipping lanes in the Irish Sea, if her steering suddenly goes haywire.
Divers were sent down at the weekend to check her rudder and engineers have tried different things to try and figure out what was the root cause of the rudder not staying on course.
To make matters worse, unaware of the looming problems, her replacement MV Clansman was despatched to her own annual refit.
The only ship available to cover the busy route is the much smaller MV Isle of Arran.
A CalMac spokesman said: "The MV Isle of Lewis has a rudder fault which will require her to return to dry dock for repair. We had hoped that it could be corrected while berthed in Ullapool, but the specialist engineers advise this is not possible.
“Unfortunately, the only suitable dry dock facilities available are in Liverpool, so she will leave Ullapool once we are satisfied she can sail there safely.
“The cause of the rudder issue is not known, and more detailed investigations will be carried out when she is in dry dock.
“It is too early to say when repairs will be completed and she can return to the route, but we will do everything we can to minimise her time out of service.
Cal Mac said the first indication of steering problems only appeared as the ship was close to Ullapool at the end of her first commercial sailing on Friday.
A spokesman said: “She had travelled from Liverpool and shown no signs of a problem at all.”
He added: “In the meantime, MV Isle of Arran will maintain the regular service. CalMac apologises for any inconvenience caused."