Stornoway’s new £42million ferry had a successful maiden voyage across the Minch to Ullapool yesterday – seven months late.
Some 245 passengers plus 55 vehicles sailed on the Ullapool run at 7am.
On the way back, 139 travellers boarded with 45 vehicles on the spacious cardeck.
Many people booked tickets specifically to sail on her first voyage while about a dozen enjoyed a return cruise.
Her powerful twin engines, named Clisham and Callanish after two famous Hebridean landmarks, let her touch over 20 knots at times.
One passenger said that the vessel was “like the Starship Enterprise” adding that the journey to Stornoway from Ullapool was very smooth.
He added that the ferry had arrived so quickly that they had to wait until another vessel moved out of the way so they could dock.
In the open water, her stabilisers were activated to successfully dampen the rolling in a south easterly wind gusting against her hull at 19 knots.
Meanwhile, updated figures show that Thursday’s open day was exceedingly popular with over 3,000 touring inside the ship, said ferry operator CalMac.
Such was the demand for the public viewing sessions that car parking was at a premium in Stornoway town centre.
The new Stornoway ferry is specially designed to have next to no disruptions due to mechanical breakdowns.
Three back-up engines aim to keep the ship going on her regular timetable and speed even if one of her two main engines breaks down.
Such a set-up is a huge advantage over the present MV Isle of Lewis which cannot legally sail unless it has two fully operating main engines.
Any one of the MV Loch Seaforth’s three generators – normally used for making electricity for onboard use – can be used to drive a propeller through a propulsion unit and separate input into the gearboxes.
This bypass system satisfies strict UK maritime safety rules and may also be used to stop an engine for regular maintenance at sea or even to allow for cleaning or painting.
The ship will sail again on Monday morning and will gradually take over from the MV Isle of Lewis and the dedicated freight vessel, MV Clipper Ranger, this month.
As a result, Cal Mac’s shore office and ticket staff will have to shift from Stornoway harbour’s number one pier to the Loch Seaforth’s upgraded ferry terminal.