CalMac slammed by leader of Comhairle

The MV Loch Seaforth is due to enter dry-dock for its annual service and inspection.

Cllr Roddie MacKay made the comments after it emerged that CalMac is set to draft in the MV Hebridean Islands for the nightly freight-runs on the Stornoway-Ullapool route, whilst the much larger vessel that normally services the route, MV Loch Seaforth, is in dry-dock.

The MV Hebridean Isles will also complete two freight runs per night instead of the usual single run completed by the Loch Seaforth.

In a statement, the Comhairle called on CalMac “to work together” with the authority, and to “consider the needs of islands and the islands economy”, and proposed that the MV Isle of Lewis be drafted in to complete the freight service with the smaller MV Hebridean Isles being used for the passenger service.

Cllr MacKay, said: “The proposed two-run freight service still has only half the capacity of the required trailer load. People plan their businesses around scheduled freight services. The high-handed disregard for service users is appalling.

“CalMac have decided to be driven by the needs of leisure rather than freight in their decision. They are removing the Loch Seaforth with capacity for 20 loads and replacing it with the Hebridean Isles with a capacity of five loads”, Cllr MacKay claimed, concluding: “Even with two overnight freight runs they only provide half of what they are removing.”

But, CalMac said that this year’s arrangements are the same as in previous years and there have been “no issues with capacity”.

CalMac’s Robert Morrison said: “Every year all vessels go into dry dock to overhaul the fleet, ensuring it is reliable and resilient. This is a complex and detailed plan that involves every single vessel.

“There is no spare capacity in our fleet meaning we have to move vessels around each year to ensure we provide a lifeline service to all communities.

“We appreciate that this process can bring frustration when a regular vessel is removed, but it is essential and only affects around two weeks of a service that runs for 52 weeks a year.

“The replacement service put in place will provide all the necessary capacity for freight.”