Freight ferry service impact

Supermarket delivery lorries are being left behind on the mainland because the new MV Loch Seaforth ferry to Stornoway departs too early, it is claimed.

Just this week, the Loch Seaforth has been fully commissioned into round-the-clock voyages on the Lewis - Ullapool crossing.

She is now undertaking three voyages a day including the overnight freight run.

Haulage lorries carrying groceries, milk and bread for the Co-op and Tesco worked on a well-oiled schedule to head north to make a 4.30am sailing. Other deliveries including medical supplies for island GPs also ran to pre-dawn timing.

Until now, the system worked smoothly with supplies arriving on Lewis at the start of the working day.

Lorries miss the boat over changed freight timetable

3 April 2015

The sticking point is that the 7,800 tonne MV Loch Seaforth has now brought the service departure time forward by two hours.

The ferry leaves the Loch Broom port by 2.30am to arrive in Stornoway harbour in time to make her return 7am departure with passengers and cars.

But the change means delivery trucks are being left behind in Ullapool. The next ferry doesn’t arrive in Stornoway until lunchtime, resulting in bare shop shelves for half the day.

A CalMac spokesman said: "This revised timetable has been developed in partnership with Transport Scotland and provides for one overnight freight service and two day time return vehicular and passenger sailings.

“It has been agreed and publicised among hauliers for more than a year we will continue to work with our customers and monitor the operation of the service."