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Ullapool car ferry service cancelled for six weeks

 

A six-week disruption to the Stornoway to Ullapool car ferry service is expected to occur between February and March.

 

Cal Mac is looking at a late February start to alternative arrangements for a vehicle and freight service.

 

There will be no full ferry service to Ullapool for up to a month and a half as the mainland harbour is installing a new linkspan ramp.

 

Cal Mac is working towards changing to a temporary foot passenger-only ferry service to Ullapool from the second half of February.

 

Proposals to get cars and lorries to and from the mainland have not been finalised yet.

 

It is hoped to get the service back to normal by Friday 27 March, the start of the Western Isles school’s Easter holidays.

 

Ullapool ferry disruption from late February          

12 November 2014

 

The disruption comes in the middle of the fleet’s refit season with each vessel scheduled to be off station for maintenance at a mainland shipyard.

 

A CalMac spokesman told Hebrides News:"The replacement of Ullapool linkspan, when completed, will be hugely beneficial to ferry travellers by improving resilience and securing a positive future for the port.

 

“This is a great example of forward-thinking organisations working together (Ullapool Harbour Authority, CalMac and Transport Scotland) with the common goal of improving the customer experience, not just in the short term but for many years to come.”

 

He added: “"Clearly some disruption will be likely, but this will be for a limited period, and the timing, in the early part of 2015, has been chosen to ensure that the works are completed in good time for the busy summer season.

 

“CalMac is currently working through a number of options to find a way of minimising the impact of these works on its customers and will make an announcement of its plans in due course once all options have been fully explored. It would prefer not to comment on any specific option at this stage."


 
Ullapool car ferry service cancelled for six weeks