Crash ferry off for repairs

A CalMac ferry damaged after running aground on North Uist sailed from Lochmaddy harbour yesterday afternoon.

Severe weather had delayed HV Hebrides from making its way to Greenock for a drydock repair yard earlier this week.

The ferryhasbeenout of action after crashing on Sunday, hitting rocks and damaging pontoons.

She will enter dry dock in Greenock at the weekend.

A CalMac spokeswoman said: “Her move frees up the linkspan at Lochmaddy.”

MV Clansman was the first vessel to dock at the port since Sunday. She was closely followed by MV Isle of Lewis.

Both ships will help to

“Crashing on Sunday, hitting rocks and damaging pontoons”

ease the backlog of traffic, particularly freight. The Lewis will also drop off and embark lifeline loads for the Isle of Barra which, due to some sustained adverse weather, has had sailings cancelled this week.

Today, with MV Clansman completing her move north to Tarbert on Harris and MV Lord of the Isles (LOTI) transferring to Oban, the full Tarbert, Uig and Lochmaddy triangle service will resume.

There will be an additional Lochmaddy to Uig return sailing, leaving Lochmaddy at 8.05pmandarrivingUig 9.50pm, before departing 10.10pm and arriving back atNorth Uist at 11.55pm. Clansman’s usual routes to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay will be covered by LOTI.

The spokeswoman added: “These contingencies will be in place for at least a week.”