Many CalMac ferries are sailing hours earlier than usual today (Tuesday) in a bid to get people home for Christmas before a south westerly gale blows up.
Wind speeds are set to pick up in the early morning, strengthening throughout the day. Gusts may reach 50mph this evening.
Conditions will not be as extreme as Sunday’s storm but force eight gale levels later on Christmas Eve see being brought forward, where possible.
Passengers are advised to check ferry updates over the day.
CalMac’s message for intending passengers is to travel early, if they can.
Crews on MV Isle of Lewis and the Lord of the Isles got up in the middle of the night in a bid to help reunite people with loved ones this Christmas.
MV Lord of the Isles also set off at 4am from Oban, steering north of her usual course to combat sea conditions.
The Lewis departed Oban around 6.20am to make it home before waves became too wild.
Deteriorating conditions created a daunting challenge for MV Hebrides as she persevered
through rough seas, ensuring return sailings for two communities - Uist and Harris
- would go-ahead.
Strong gusts are predicted to be around 50mph when MV Loch Seaforth is due to dock at Stornoway.
Today’s last sailing on the Sound of Barra is an early lunchtime departure from Eriskay.
MV Loch Alainn has brought forward the sailing for noon, an hour earlier than usual
due to the worsening conditions. Other afternoon sailings are cancelled. The remaining
pre-dawn first return sailings on the route this morning did not operate because
of a combination of adverse weather and lighting being unavailable at a dark harbour.
Crossings on the Sound of Harris are disrupted with the last sailing for today now heading off at noon from Berneray. The vessel aims for a very speedy turnaround at the other end to leave Leverburgh at 1.10pm.
Ferries have a day off on Christmas Day with most resuming service first thing on Boxing Day.
CalMac ferries sail hours earlier in bid to get people home for Christmas amid gale disruption
24 December 2024
