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Lifeboats called to help Ullapool to Stornoway ferry after it breaks down in the Minch

The MV Loch Seaforth which serves the Stornoway to Ullapool.
The MV Loch Seaforth which serves the Stornoway to Ullapool.

A CalMac ferry had to be escorted into Stornoway by two lifeboats after it broke down in the Minch with hundreds of passengers and crew on board.

The newest MV Loch Seaforth, which was built in 2014, was travelling from Ullapool to Stornoway when it encountered difficulties with its main engine cooling systems.

The breakdown led to serious disruption on the ferry route with services either delayed or cancelled.

The vessel left the mainland at 10.30am but the problem emerged about halfway between the ports when its speed started slowing down.

Two RNLI lifeboats based in Stornoway and Lochinver were sent out to assist along with a Coastguard tug.

Power was partially restored on the vessel shortly before 1pm enabling it to continue on its journey, eventually reaching the dock around three hours later. There were 343 passengers and crew on board.

One passenger, Karen Afrin, a businesswoman from Stornoway, told how the power outage stopped the toilets from working.

She said: “The ferry was drifting and we were told that was because they could not put the stabilisers down. The only other problem was that the toilets stopped working.

“I wouldn’t have known but they came round to tell us that. They were very good at keeping us all informed about what was happening.”

Another passenger, 27-year-old Grant Stewart from Maryhill, was desperate to get home to his wife who broke her pelvis while pregnant.

He said: “The crew did well and they were very good with their service to the passengers. Crew members were coming round every 15 minutes to keep us informed. It was not easy because everything shut down – including the toilets.”

A CalMac spokesman described it as a technical issue and said the vessel made its way “steadily towards Stornoway”.

The ferry firm said the 5.30pm service out of Ullapool had been cancelled and stressed that a full assessment would be carried out.

The spokesman added: “We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Following the incident, Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil called on the the UK Department of Transport to return an emergency towing vessel permanently to the area.