All dressed up and no port to go 7/11/14
Stornoway’s brand new £42 million ferry has been forced to steer clear of her home port because an £8 million harbour upgrade is badly delayed.
The 7,800 tonne MV Loch Seaforth cannot berth at Stornoway’s ferry terminal because infill and pier redevelopment works are still ongoing.
It means the new ship has to postpone berthing trials for many more weeks.
Originally, it was planned she would dock in Stornoway immediately after sailing from her German shipyard.
But, on Thursday she had no choice but to steam straight past the Western Isles onward
to a lay-
There she will undergo an official in-
Fitting-
The ferry will still be ready before the Stornoway pier is able to accommodate her.
Works to upgrade and extend the ferry berth has been hit by delays including a compressed air explosion in August which injured two men.
No date is given for the pier’s completion though it is hoped to be ready before the end of the year. Bad weather may mean it will be into 2015 before the ferry can start work.
The MV Loch Seaforth passed the Barra ferry, MV Clansman, in the Sound of Mull yesterday evening.
Dressed with bunting strung between her masts, the Seaforth slowed down for a courtesy quick turn by Cal Mac Gourock headquarters before continuing to Greenock.