The delivery of the new Stornoway ferry, MV Loch Seaforth is running late again.
The £42 million ship may not be in service until October after problems in her fitting-
Originally it was said the ship -
Hebrides News also reported that the freight vessel MV Clipper Ranger -
Rumours that further delays have hit the Flensburger ship yard in Germany due to
slow progress with the ship’s accommodation block’s internal fitting-
According to CMAL the latest “revised delivery date” is late September.
This would mean the ferry is unlikely to start regular sailings in the Minch until sometime in October.
CMAL admitted there has been an “unavoidable delay in the installation of electrical services throughout the vessel.”
This has held back other trades and services, said the organisation which will lease the boat from finance company, Lloyds Banking Group.
Completing the lounges, cafes and passenger areas have yet to be done. The crew quarters
are still unfinished. Connecting and commissioning her on-
Previously the Loch Seaforth was due to arrive in Stornoway on 1 September. After
a few days of sea trials -
However, shipyard sea trials at the River Flensberg and the official handover are not expected to be finished until late September.
The ship will be tested before she receives essential legal and safety certification before being accepted by Cmal and Cal Mac.
The MV Loch Seaforth will then sail from Germany to her home port of Stornoway and undergo local sea trials in the Minch. The ship will also test out the linkspans at both Stornoway and Ullapool.
Her local crew will also undertake familiarisation trials and training on the route.
Tom Docherty, chief executive of CMAL said: “A team from CMAL is onsite in Germany working closely with the shipyard to assist and ensure the revised delivery plan is achieved and, more importantly, that the vessel is completed to a high standard. I look forward to welcoming her to Scotland later in the autumn.”
