Ferry disruptions

Ferry cancelled in wake of Storm Ophelia

17 Oct 2017

All passenger sailings on the Stornoway - Ullapool route were cancelled today due to heavy seas in the wake of ex-Hurricane Ophelia.

The MV Loch Seaforth was stuck in Stornoway today due to sea and wind conditions.

Wind speeds later reduced to a breeze and conditions looked fine in harbour but a heavy swell was still running off the coast.

Plans for a late passenger sailing in both directions this evening were ruled out when conditions did not ease.

Island passengers are being rebooked onto tomorrow’s runs while some are diverting via Tarbert.

One German tourist said he now had to find a bed in Stornoway for the night.

Others have to re-arrange their travel plans.

People stranded in Ullapool have the option of catching the vessel’s freight sailing at around 3am (Wednesday). Vehicles must check-in by midnight.

However, there are no bus connections for the overnight sailing.

Wild gusts prevented the same ferry from berthing at Ullapool for hours on Monday night, knocking-out her voyage schedule.

She undertook a delayed freight run to Ullapool in the early hours, arriving in Stornoway around 8.45am today.

Ferry disruptions continued elsewhere in the islands today.

Wild weather on the Sound of Barra prevented the early morning crossing earlier.

The South Uist - Mallaig route was under yellow alert though the ferry sailed on time this morning. More bad weather means the vessel faces possible disruption on Wednesday.

The MV Hebrides was catching up on a backlog of traffic from yesterday’s disruptions. The ferry departed Skye for Lochmaddy around 5.20am to pick up her timetable.

Rough seas off Lewis