Clansman due back in service 28/7/10
The broken down Barra ferry should be back in action this weekend says ferry operator Cal Mac.
Major repairs to replace a broken crankshaft are expected to be competed over the next couple of days or so. If sea tests on her engine which was removed and replaced back are successful the ship will return to her route service Castlebay and South Uist out of Oban.
However, she is expected to miss the Barrafest rush with hundreds of visitors flocking
form the mainland to the two-
Cal Mac has rostered extra sailings from today to Friday evening to get the crowds to the event including deploying the MV Lochnevis between Mallaig and Castlebay.
A CalMac spokesman said:"Repairs are progressing well and we therefore
expect the MV Clansman to return to service some time over the weekend.
“We are grateful for the patience and understanding of all our customers during
this challenging time."
Until repairs are finished in Geenock it is unknown what timetable she will follow though Cal Mac will post her schedule on its website.
Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil said: "There is no doubt that the local economy has suffered during the breakdown of the Clansman and has caused much disruption to travellers.
"I am pleased that Caledonian MacBrayne say that the Clansman will be returning to the route this weekend. This is one of the busiest weekends of the year in Barra and I am sure travellers with welcome the fact that the Clansman is to return.
"Details of the timetable should be issued on the Caledonian MacBrayne website in due course. I along with many others will welcome the fact that travel will be returning to normal this weekend and hopefully this will help Barrafest be a success.
"This disruption comes at a time when RET has otherwise successfully boosted passenger numbers. I know that my colleague Alasdair Allan MSP is currently pressing for the RET pilot, which ends in the spring, to be made more permanent."