The first working voyages of the new £42million Stornoway ferry is to be postponed as a long spell of strong winds this week means delay in completing vital harbour works.
Cranes have to stop operating in windy conditions at the fendering installation and strengthening upgrades at Stornoway’s ferry pier.
The new MV Loch Seaforth is all ready to go into service on the Stornoway to Ullapool route.
But the 7,800 gross tonnage ship and her crew have to wait until the disrupted work is finished.
But an incoming wave of bad weather is set to impeded progress all this week.
A band of wind is due to increase in strength with strong to possible gale force winds predicted through to Saturday.
The pencilled-in date of this weekend for the ferry’s arrival has now off.
The harbour board previously said it hopeed the works would be finished so the ferry would arrive by Christmas.
Last week’s violent storm also hampered progress, said the board.
No confirmed timetable for finishing the pier is available.
Construction is ongoing 24 hours a day at Stornoway harbour to try and finish the building contract.
