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Freight ferry set to stay longer            28/5/14

 

The freight ferry MV Clipper Ranger may stay on in Stornoway for a period after the MV Loch Seaforth is due to be delivered.

 

The vessel is owned, operated and crewed by Seatruck and chartered by Caledonian Macbrayne (Cal Mac) for an overnight freight service between Stornoway and Ullapool. Her crew has earned praise from local hauliers as they will always sail in a break in bad weather even outwith her timetable.

 

The ship’s one-year contract is due to expire at the very beginning of September when the new MV Loch Seaforth is expected to be operating on the Minch route. The upgraded pier at Stornoway and associated harbour works should be ready by then.

 

The Loch Seaforth is expected to undertake a nightly run to carry lorries and haulage traffic in addition to a daytime timetable.

 

Operator Cal Mac is in talks over extending the Ranger’s contract.

 

The ferry company declined to give details but it is thought it may be looking at holding on to Clipper Ranger for at least four weeks or even a couple of months longer.

 

A Cal Mac spokesman said: “Details of the commercial arrangements between CalMac and Seatruck with regard to the lease of the MV Clipper Ranger are commercially confidential.”