Capacity cut on Western Isles ferries

Capacity cut by up to 90% on Western Isles ferries

25 June 2020

Passenger numbers on Western Isles will be severely constrained due to social distancing requirements.

New timetables due to be published on Friday will show more frequent sailings coming into effect from Wednesday.

According to the shipping company’s latest update, Cal Mac’s booking system will reopen at 9am on 30 June, the day before the additional services start.

Cal Mac’s proposed service level summary has been updated to show the latest information expected to be the basis of the new timetables.

Under the new covid limits, Stornoway ferry, MV Loch Seaforth, can only carry a maximum of 133 travellers though this is an increase of about a third on an earlier assessment. She is expected to operate up to three return sailings to Ullapool each day between Sunday and Thursday, and up to two runs a day on Fridays.

MV Hebrides is only able to take around 65 travellers on each run, a reduction of nearly 90% compared to her regular maximum capacity of 612 passengers. The vessel is expected to undertake up to seven return journeys to Lochmaddy and up to six to Tarbert each week.

The Lord of the Isles is due to sail to Mallaig and back five times over a week. The number of travellers is restricted to 50 per sailing.

Barra ferry, MV Isle of Lewis will operate five return trips to Oban weekly.

Passengers can stay in their cars on the vehicle deck of both inter-island ferries. That allows MV Loch Alainn to carry 12 foot-passengers on each of the up to five crossings of the Sound of Barra.

A maximum of 21 foot-passengers is the limit per leg on the Sound of Harris route. The MV Loch Portain is expected to make up to three daily crossings.

Booking restrictions will be implemented to prevent island travellers - who often arrange trips at shorter notice than tourists - from being disadvantaged.

Reservations will only be available within a rolling two week period, preventing visitors snapping up spaces well in advance.

In addition, 20% of tickets will not be bookable and will be held back until the day of travel said the shipping firm.

Scotland's ferries' minister, Paul Wheelhouse, warned demand is "expected to increase" as Scotland moves through phases of the route map out of lockdown.

He stressed that available capacity on board will remain limited by the need to ensure two metre physical distancing in line with current scientific advice.

Cal Mac’s managing director, Robbie Drummond, said: “Covid-19 has changed many aspects of day to day life - including how our customers sail with us. As we all work together to manage the ongoing risk, safety must be the priority.

“We are implementing the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland’s travel guidelines and safety measures, including social distancing.

“These measures are designed to limit the spread of Covid-19 and they dictate the number of passengers we can carry. They are strictly controlled and not open to interpretation.”