Finally – a new ferry passenger walkway in sight
After a delay of three years, a new passenger access system at the ferry terminal in Stornoway will be in place for next summer, after a £1.9 million contract was awarded to local firm Lewis Builders Ltd.
It follows a commitment given by the Stornoway Port Authority at a public reception in September, and reported in the Gazette, that they were finally in a position to move forward with a replacement.
A major mechanical failure, involving several different components, meant the passenger access system had to be closed off in December 2023, with foot passengers having to use the car deck.
It was initially meant to be a temporary solution. However, negotiations with the orignal Spanish installers, Barcelona-based ADELTE, broke down and subsequent investigations revealed that the entire structure was beyond repair.
The broken walkway was removed from the pier earlier this year, in another signal that a long-awaited solution was finally in sight.
The lengthy delay in securing a replacement has created frustration among the travelling public, as they have been forced to embark and disembark through the car deck, leading to increased waiting times – and a time of heightened ferry disruption.
Stornoway Port Authority said that the new platform has had to be designed around the particular requirements of the MV Loch Seaforth, which has a passenger access door positioned considerably higher than any other vessel in the Calmac fleet.
The height of the Loch Seaforth’s access door, combined with the wide tidal range at Stornoway Harbour, presented a number of engineering challenges.
In addition to the £1.9 million construction contract, Stornoway Port has invested significant sums in the design, research and technical assessments to bring the project to this stage.
Alex Macleod, SPA chief executive, said: "We recognise that this has been a frustrating period for passengers, and we appreciate their patience while we have worked towards a solution. It has taken longer than any of us would have liked, but our priority throughout has been to find a solution that is safe, reliable and built to last.
"This has not been a straightforward project, and finding the right solution has required close collaboration with a number of partners, technical specialists and other stakeholders. Bringing together the different operational, engineering and safety requirements has been a complex process, but it was important that we took the time to consider the options and develop a solution that meets the long-term needs of the Port and ferry passengers.
"We are particularly pleased that a local company with a strong track record of working with the Port will be delivering the project. There is still work ahead of us, but awarding this contract is an important step and we look forward to seeing the new platform in place by summer 2027."