Ferry in pier touchdown
4 February 2015
The new Stornoway ferry has finally made contact with the multi-
After months of waiting on the Clyde while the Stornoway pier works were continually delayed, Caledonian Macbrayne new £42 million flagship eventually got to dock at her own pier.
In calm seas on Wednesday morning, she left her lay-
Her 7,800 hull gently kissed the tall fenders on the west side of the pier as her crew threw lines ashore.
Ship’s winches fore and aft took the strain, the onshore bollards easily took the weight, and the vessel was soon secured alongside.
The Loch Seaforth opened her bow door and lowered her car ramp to try out the linkspan for size. Later, she manoeuvred off the berth to test her hydraulic after ramp.
Later, the ferry steamed off to Ullapool for a few hours, returning for her first ever darktime docking test at the pier around 7pm.
Berthing and familiarisation tests are due to continue in Stornoway harbour.
It is hoped the ship will be in commercial service later this month.
Mark Nicolson