Stornoway ferry route to lose second vessel

The issue for a second ferry to provide extra summer sailings on the Stornoway - Ullapool route is set to be raised a forthcoming consultation over ferry services.

The MV Isle of Lewis is due to be transferred onto the Barra-Oban route from April next year.

It means the ship will not be available to carry out additional sailings from Stornoway as she did this season.

These were brought in as a “one off” for this summer and are not part of the summer 2016 timetable for Lewis.

The vessel was on stand-by while her Stornoway replacement, the new MV Loch Seaforth, was bedded into the route.

A Cal Mac spokesman said calls for additional sailings for Lewis will be included in discussions on the route as part of a consultation process it will undertake with communities across the network.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have been clear from the outset that our intention is for the MV Loch Seaforth to be used as the sole vessel on the Stornoway-Ullapool route.

“The MV Loch Seaforth is capable of operating 24 hours a day and brings an increase of more than 16% car-carrying capacity when compared to the MV Isle of Lewis. She has a capacity for up to 700 passengers, and 143 cars or 20 commercial vehicles.”

Stornoway ferry route to lose second vessel

23 September 2015