Another ferry disaster as vessel crashes into isle pier
4,400 left without link to mainland ++ Pressure piled on SNP ministers
ISLANDERS have been left stranded without lifeline CalMac services after a ferry was badly damaged when it struck a pier.
The hull of MV Hebrides was pierced in the incident at Lochmaddy, North Uist, on Wednesday as it tried to dock on arrival from Uig on Skye.
Yesterday, the ferry was being welded as a temporary fix to allow it to reach Greenock for repairs. It is not known how long the vessel will be out of action.
It means islanders on North Uist, South Uist and Benbecula – almost 4,400 people – currently have no
‘Scenario islanders had feared’
essential ferry connection to the mainland. Services between Lochboisdale on South Uist and Mallaig have been suspended until next week as the MV Lord of the Isles is in Greenock for repairs.
A spokesman for Western Isles Council said: ‘With MV Hebrides being withdrawn from service the scenario that islanders have feared for so long in the ongoing ferry crisis that has impacted our lifeline services for at least the last five years has now arrived.
‘The community of Uist is left without a ferry service to the mainland. Islanders have long made clear the need for greater urgency on addressing the need to order new ferries.’
The council has called for ‘urgent action’ from the Scottish Government to charter former Pentland Firth catamaran MV Pentalina to provide cover this summer.
The council’s chairman of transportation and infrastructure Uisdean Robertson said: ‘The ferry crisis is being experienced by islanders every day. It is not a newspaper headline, it is a harsh reality and we need government to take decisive steps to secure the future of the islands their ferry contract is supposed to serve.’
No replacement vessel has been sent to cover the MV Lord of the Isles. Services on the route were cancelled on Tuesday and are not expected to resume until next Wednesday.
Passengers had instead been advised to travel on foot on the Uig to Lochmaddy service but the damage to the MV Hebrides has now triggered a crisis for the islands.
It is unclear what caused the ferry to crash into the pier, which is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound upgrade.
People who needed to travel instead tried to book flights, but Loganair services between Benbecula and Glasgow were at full capacity.
There are fears that tourism could be affected.
A hotel worker said: ‘CalMac needs to be shamed for this. It’s atrocious.
‘People are trapped on the islands. People who have booked can’t get here and people who are on holiday can’t get home.
‘It’s disgraceful. The service always seems to be at its worst in the holiday season.’
An English tourist on holiday in Lochmaddy and due to travel home next week said: ‘The ferries are all anyone is talking about.
‘People who work are worried that they won’t be able to get back and will be marooned.
‘CalMac needs to be shamed’
It used to be that the ferries ran like clockwork but now it makes you think twice about booking a holiday here.’
Western Isles Nationalist MSP Alasdair Allan said: ‘I understand that mishaps do happen from time to time.
‘However, we cannot have a situation where all of Uist is left without a ferry service to the mainland from either of its ferry ports.
‘Last night’s incident underlines the pressing need for more resilience in CalMac’s fleet.’