MV Hebrides will be removed from service from 30 June to 3 July to allow inspection
of the bow visor. During this period, MV Alfred will operate an amended timetable
on the Little Minch route.
Hebrides News revealed last month MV Hebrides suffered two cracks in her bow visor
starboard arm.
Due to location of these cracks the visor cannot be operated, and CalMac is unable
to operate it until a full inspection is conducted.
As a result, the vessel is currently operating stern loading only which is increasing
turnaround times resulting in service disruption including cancellations.
The inspection will take place at Stornoway from 30 June to 3 July while the vessel
is out of service, and a repair plan, including any temporary repairs, will be agreed.
Full repair will not take place until the vessel’s next annual overhaul in early
2026 said CalMac.
As part of the inspection, CalMac will look at what temporary repairs can be completed,
and this will inform deployment and timetables from Friday 4 July onwards.
There are six hatches that need to be removed to allow a full inspection of the bow
visor, with this work taking 12-14 hours per hatch. This means it is not possible
to conduct the inspection while the vessel is in service.
MV Alfred's timetable is currently being finalised.
A CalMac spokeswoman said: “MV Alfred has provided resilience and reliability, mainly
for Arran, whilst on charter. She’ll now provide cover for MV Hebrides for these
essential inspections in a few weeks.
“We are working at pace to develop an amended timetable for Little Minch services
for this period and will share it with local communities and affected customers as
soon as possible.”
MV Alfred to cover MV Hebrides on CalMac’s Skye triangle run
5 June 2025
► Cracks discovered on CalMac ferry