Advertisement

HEBRIDES: Late February start for Loch Seaforth

Caledonian MacBrayne’s £41.8 million flagship Loch Seaforth reached Scottish waters on 7 November 2014, but the 700-passenger/143-car vessel seems unlikely to enter service between Ullapool and Stornoway until 22 February – and then only carrying passengers.

The car ferry service will not resume until 7 April after installation by R. J. MacLeod of a new Ullapool linkspan designed and constructed by MacGregor (Cargotec). While the 8,478gt Loch Seaforth makes two passenger return trips a day, previous route vessels Isle of Lewis (1995/6,753gt) and chartered ro-ro ferry Clipper Ranger (1998/7,606gt) will provide a car/passenger and freight service from Stornoway to Uig, Isle of Skye, with three-hour journey times.

CalMac managing director Martin Dorchester explained: ‘It has proved to be a significant logistical challenge, especially matching the different vessels to different tides and finding a way of continuing to provide a service from Stornoway, but we believe we have found a good solution.’

Originally expected in service in time for summer 2014, Loch Seaforth was delayed, as Flensburg-based German builders FSG suffered financial problems, the vessel also having to go to Odense, Denmark for modifications.

Ships Montly - January 2024

Storylines and Brodosplit shipyard renew ship building contract for residence ship

Storylines, a pioneering company in the residential ship industry, has renewed a shipbuilding contract with Brodosplit shipyard based in Split, Croatia, to construct the...
Advertisement

Related articles

Storylines and Brodosplit shipyard renew ship building contract for residence ship

Storylines, a pioneering company in the residential ship industry, has renewed a shipbuilding contract with Brodosplit shipyard based...

World’s oldest cable layer in Greece

Celebrating her 115th birthday this year is the Greek cable laying ship Thalis o Milisios (Thales of Miletus),...

Damen to deliver two ASD Tugs 3010 to Norway

On 20 February 2024 Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with BOA Group for two ASD Tugs 3010...

New partnership between Maersk Supply Service and Edison Chouest Offshore

A bew partnership between Maersk Supply Service and Edison Chouest Offshore is intended to enable faster offshore wind...