Fresh pressure for South Uist ferry 1/7/14

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is pressing Transport Scotland to fund a regular ferry link between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

The issue was brought up at a meeting with the Transport Minister in Glasgow two weeks ago.

The Scottish Government’s ferries plan pledges to seriously consider introducing a Mallaig to Lochboisdale service, when deciding on the specification for the next round of ferry tenders.

Council leader Angus Campbell said the transport minister Keith Brown will be further lobbied over the link which would dramatically cut down travelling times compared to the present lengthy sea passage from Oban.

Mr Campbell said the winter trial of the MV Lord of the Isles (Loti) on the route was discussed with the minister.

Now a task group led by the Comhairle - which includes HIE and other organisations - aims to research the economic case for the link.

Shorter voyages, increased business and trade, and a boost to tourism is expected to be covered by the study.

Over the winter the Scottish Government paid for a trial for a direct link to Mallaig which slashed the time of the present seven hour voyage from Oban in half.

But the service was greatly hampered by bad weather with the Loti - a relatively small ship - frequently cancelling sailings.

One disadvantage was the ship could only undertake the Mallaig run if she managed to undertake her outward voyage across a long stretch of open water from Oban to Barra.

Funding routes is the ultimate responsibility of Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government.

The ferries are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets which charters them to the winning bidder of west coast ferry services contract, presently Cal Mac, which provides the crews and ticketing services.

Supporters say a reliable permanent link it would create help counter the high unemployment rate in the islands which is double the Scottish average, by regenerating the economy and attract exiles back to live on Uist.

The pilot ran from November to early April with a pre-arranged three week break in February when MV Lord of the Isles covered elsewhere in the network.