The new £42 million ferry for the Western Isles – which was claimed to be so technically advanced that it would have few if any breakdowns – has broken down.
The Ullapol to Stornoway ferry MV Loch Seaforth is stuck in Ullapool and the ageing MV Isle of Lewis is on the way to take stranded passengers to Lewis.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne posted on social media: “MV Loch Seaforth has a technical fault and MV Isle of Lewis is travelling from Stornoway to take over tonight’s sailing.”
There have been rumours in the islands for the last few days of serious problems with an engine on the new vessel. However, she has three back-up engines leading to claims when she was being built that she was unlikely ever to break down.
After CalMac’s announcement of the breakdown, it cancelled all sailings between Ullapool and Stornoway tomorrow. However, it said the reason was not the breakdown but wind.
New Stornoway ferry stranded in Ullapool after breakdown
