Relief efforts undertaken by the crew of MV Finlaggan on Harris this year have been honoured at the Scottish Transport Awards.
Nominated in the Frontline Employee of the Year category, the entire crew was highly commended at the awards ceremony in Glasgow for helping the community during extensive powercuts.
Storms brought down powerlines, leavings hundreds of people without heat, light or hot food.
Caledonian MacBrayne’s ferries throughout the network battled day after day to keep moving in the severe weather, delivering usual lifeline services, as well as carrying electricity engineers to areas where power had failed.
Eventually, though, the conditions became too severe and many were then forced to remain in port.
The MV Finlaggan -
Although the ship’s own supplies were running low, the crew decided to share what they had to make life a little more comfortable for local people, inviting them to come on board for showers, warm food and drinks, as well as providing electricity to recharge electronic devices.
They also provided takeaway supplies for villagers to deliver to islanders who were unable to get to the ship.
Meanwhile, the ship’s chief and second engineers left the boat to help the Hotel
Hebrides install a generator in sub-
MV Finlaggan usually plies the route from Kennacraig to Islay, but does also cover the Skye, Harris, North Uist triangle on occasion.
Harris ferry crew praised for powercut relief efforts
21 June 2015