15 minutes saved by faster ferry is added to check-in

IT cost £42million and was beset by delays and setbacks, but at least the new superferry to the Outer Hebrides made the journey time quicker.

Long- suffering passengers could console themselves that the MV Loch Seaforth has shaved 15 minutes off the crossing time between Stornoway, on Lewis, and Ullapool, on the mainland.

But this tiny triumph evaporated after operators Caledonian MacBrayne announced that all motorists must now check in a quarter of an hour earlier than before.

Instead of arriving 45 minutes before sailing, drivers are being told to come a ‘minimum’ of an hour prior to departure.

CalMac has blamed the change on increased traffic congestion – particularly at Ullapool, Ross-shire – since the biggest ship in its fleet finally came into service in February.

The move is the just latest frustration for customers, who have endured months of disruption before being able to use the ferry, which takes twoand-a-half hours to cross the Minch.

There have also been complaints from foot passengers that it is now taking them longer to disembark than it used to on the older, smaller ferries – again mainly at Ullapool.

But the ferry firm is adamant that the l onger boarding times are necessary as congestion has become especially bad at Ullapool, where the sea front is often grid-locked at ferry arrival and departure times.

CalMac blamed the problem on car passengers arriving at the l ast minute at the same time as freight vehicles.

A spokesman said: ‘It is important that ferry traffic does not adversely affect traffic flow on public roads around the ports. We are hopeful this alteration to check-in times will address the issue.’

CalMac also confirmed that the MV Loch Seaforth will be in dry dock for maintenance from October 26. It will be replaced temporarily by its predecessor the MV Isles of Lewis.

Passengers have suffered massive disruption on the route this year – mainly caused by long delays to completing work at both ports.

In March, the ferry had to be withdrawn when a ventilation fan developed a fault.

The 380ft ferry, which can carry 700 passengers and 143 cars, was later prevented from sailing after a lubricant pipe split.

In May, it was reduced to a ‘stroll on, stroll off ’ service, taking only foot passengers, after the 42-year- old linkspan bridge used by the vessel at Ullpool had to be replaced. Vehicles had to travel to Uig on Skye, more than 130 miles away for a crossing.