Six-day cancellation for Barra ferry
Ferry services from Barra to the mainland will be cancelled for six days later this month when replacement works are carried out at Castlebay.
There will be no sailings from the island between Sunday May 21 and Friday May 26 to Oban, while Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) replaces the wire lifting ropes at the Castlebay linkspan.
CMAL decided on the dates after consulting with CalMac, with the ferry operator planning to direct passengers on to other services between Ardmhor and Eriskay.
These journeys through the Sound of Barra will allow passengers to connect to Uist services from Lochboisdale and Lochmaddy to the mainland.
Head of engineering at CMAL Morven Bridges said: “These repairs are essential and we are required to complete the work before the summer holiday season begins. We are aware that any disruption is unwelcome, and we are working with CalMac to minimise the disruption this will cause for ferry users.
“Once the work is complete, the linkspan will be returned to normal use and abnormal heavy loads can begin to safely use Castlebay linkspan again through normal prior notification to CalMac.”
Ms Bridges added: “We have appointed the same specialist contractor who successfully completed – ahead of schedule – similar work at Lochboisdale in South Uist last September/ October.”
The works at Castlebay were originally scheduled to take place in March, but were postponed to allow for urgent work on Uig linkspan on Skye so it could return to operation.
CMAL is required to replace the ropes after results from an inspection by specialist engineers and updated safety restrictions prevented heavy loads from using the linkspan.
Head of operations at CalMac Ferries Ltd Finlay MacRae said: “During this essential maintenance period for Castlebay linkspan there will be no direct service from Oban to Barra. All options for alternative services will involve travel via the Sound of Barra for Uist to mainland services.
“Due to current issues with vessel deployments and the extended annual overhaul programme, CalMac will confirm alternative routing options week commencing May 8.”
Currently, CalMac are only able to serve Lochboisdale on South Uist once a week on Wednesdays, due to delays in the overhaul delays.
However, CalMac plan to restart a seven-day service between Mallaig-Lochboisdale from Sunday May 14, allowing displaced Barra passengers to use this service during the works.