Grounded ferry requires drydock repairs
27 September 2016
The damaged MV Hebrides needs to come out of the water for repairs.
But gales and rough seas have delayed her voyage to a drydock repair yard in Greenock.
The vessel has been out of action after crashing in Lochmaddy harbour on Sunday.
The 99 metre long vessel had 76 passengers onboard hit the seabed on the rocky seabed.
The vessel also destroyed pontoons after colliding into Lochmaddy Marina.
A "technical fault" meant the vessel failed to slow down as she approached the berth.
A team of divers carried out an underwater inspection to check if her propellers were damaged when churching up pontoons when the vessel went astern to free herself from the shore.
► Official maritime probe launched into ferry grounding
There was concern about damage to the Cal Mac ferry's bottom, lower hull, propellers and rudders, after the accident.
The shipping firm confirmed the drydocking and said it will give details of the damage later.
Cal Mac said: “MV Hebrides will depart Lochmaddy for Garvel Clyde shortly for repairs,” referring to the drydock yard at Greenock, the nearest facility to the Western Isles.
The announcement means repairs -
Ewen Johnson