All Western Isles ferry services suspended during severe gale

 

17 October 2024

CalMac ferry services for the Western Isles are cancelled this morning with very rough seas and force nine southerly winds impacting routes.

All sailings up to the early afternoon from Eriskay are cancelled on this route. The last two timetabled return sailings are in doubt and depend on the weather front moving away from the area.

This morning’s Sound of Harris crossing is cancelled. The only other sailing for the day is on yellow alert with a review in the afternoon.

MV Loch Seaforth is sheltering in Ullapool until the weather abates. She tied up on arrival from the Stornoway freight run at 1am. Current forecasts indicate an improvement in sea conditions late afternoon when she intends to load and depart with a backlog of traffic.  

MV Isle of Lewis, remains in Castlebay due to 60mph gusts on her route. Her Oban sailings are cancelled today.

The Skye triangle ferry has been out of action since last night with a faulty main engine resulting in the cancellation of Harris sailings. Sea state was too bad for her to venture out this morning while an amended timetable will operate for Lochmaddy only from late afternoon, weather and technical issues permitting. Tarbert sailings are cancelled again.

The relief Lochboisdale service is cancelled due to a combination of adverse weather and vessel deployments. A sailing could likely have been slotted in during the late afternoon had a vessel been available but regular ship MV Lord of the Isles has been redeployed for a lengthy period to cover shortages in CalMac’s fleet.