The Cal Mac ferry MV Clansman altered course to take part in an emergency search for what was feared to be a wrecked boat.
Parts of a liferaft, a fender plus a shoe were spotted floating in the sea at the entrance to Oban Bay just before 6am this morning.
A fishing boat reported the find to Stornoway Coastguard and a search was initiated.
The Clansman ferry joined Oban lifeboat and many other local boats to scour the area west of Maiden Island.
After an extensive search around the coastline and within Oban Bay, no further debris was found and the search was later called off.
As a result the Clansman is running late over the day.
Her lunchtime departure from Oban to Barra has been delayed.
This evening’s inbound voyage from Castlebay will also be behind schedule.
Ferry joins extensive search after liferaft debris found
8 May 2015