Skye triangle improvements

Over £55 million will be invested in building new harbour infrastructure for the arrival of the new ferry for Lochmaddy and Tarbert.

She is due operate a similar timetable as present when she replaces the MV Hebrides on the Skye triangle route between North Uist, Harris and Uig.

With a bigger mass the more powerful ferry would put extra strain on the aging piers during berthing - particularly in bad weather - so each harbour is being upgraded.

At each location, the seabed will be dredged to allow more room under the hull while part of the shore will be filled in and tarred to create bigger waiting and marshalling areas for vehicles.

All piers are being rebuilt, lengthened and strengthened to cope with the larger boat.

The 102-metre long “green” dual fuel ship is designed to carry up to 650 passengers inside. There is also outside seating.

Her car deck will be about 25% bigger than the Hebrides allowing her to load 127 cars or 16 lorries, or a combination of both.

She will use the cleaner liquefied natural gas (LNG) though her engines can also operate on marine diesel.

Scottish Government agency Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) will lease the ferry to Cal Mac.

£13.69 million would be invested in upgrades at Tarbert for pier reconstruction and extension, new fenders, seabed dredging to improve vessel access, land reclamation to increase the marshalling and parking areas, alterations to the terminal building facilities, new passenger access gangway and improvements to electricity and water supply.

Lochmaddy upgrades proposed by owners Comhairle nan Eilean Siar would cost around £15.3 million. This includes pier upgrade and extension, new fenders, seabed dredging to improve vessel access and land reclamation to increase the marshalling area and parking capacity, new passenger access gangway and improvements to electricity and water supply.

Highland Council which owns Uig harbour is to widen the existing pier, construct a wave screen and reposition the outer dolphin. Dredging would take place and a new linkspan installed. The shore in front of the existing ticket office would be filled to provide a bigger marshalling area plus new terminal facilities. Current total estimated cost: £26.5 million.

A consultation survey is available at www.cmassets.co.uk/skye-triangle.

£55 million harbour redevelopments for new ferry

13 Sept 2017

A new vehicle waiting area will extend over the existing shore at Uig.