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Ferry banished to different pier    12/5/14

 

The timetable for the Stornoway ferry vessel has changed due to major harbour works.

 

Many departure and arrival times are now later than usual with the MV Isle of Lewis will suffering delayed turnaround times in both Stornoway and Ullapool harbours as onshore construction works get underway.

 

The redevelopments are to prepare each port for the new £42 million MV Loch Seaforth ferry which is due to arrive later this year.  

 

She was commissioned to take over from the MV Isle of Lewis and the MV Muirneag to provide a combined freight and passenger service.

 

At present, thousands of tonnes of rock and stone being deposited off the south east corner of the Stornoway ferry terminal area, by the present vehicle entrance, to reclaim land for a new access road.

In addition, the gap between the end of the number three pier and the berthing dolphin will be infilled and stronger dolphins and fenders installed as the new ferry is bigger and heavier than the current ship.

 

The present ferry, MV Isle of Lewis will now operate from Pier No.1 at the other end of Stornoway harbour.

 

Passengers will board the vessel from this pier from now on even after the number three pier is ready.

However, it means the carpark at the pier is now shut which risks traffic congestion at ferry times and adds to Stornoway’s parking problems over the summer.

 

The main contractor on the Stornoway project is BAM Nuttall with Breedon carrying out the rock in-fill, armour stone removal and reinstatement at the terminal, together with car park resurfacing, roundabout construction and duct and drainage works.

 

Breedon will be on site for 21 weeks, employing around 25 people on the project. It will supply some 60,000 tonnes of stone, 3,500 tonnes of asphalt and 1,500 cubic metres of ready-mixed concrete.

It includes expansion onto vacant land by the James Street roundabourt will give extra space for a reconfigured parking and freight marshalling area.

 

Some £9 million has been secured from the Scottish Government through Transport Scotland. Stornoway Port Authority’s contribution amounts to just over £2 million.

 

The pier at Ullapool is also being lengthened and a new floor being built on the ticket office.

 

Dingwall-based civil engineering consultants Wallace Stone are the project managers for the building phase of the Ullapool pier. They have also been awarded the contract for the design development and construction supervision.

 

The overall level of investment in the Stornoway to Ullapool route is around £60 million.