 Date: 13/01/07
News
Feature: Ferry Journey cut Short By Hurricane Winds
From The Press and Journal...
A Ferry with 44 passengers on board braved
hurricane-force winds yesterday as she fought a five-hour battle attempting
to sail from the Outer Hebrides to Skye.
The journey from Lochmaddy, on North Uist, to Uig normally takes just one
hour and 40 minutes.
But after encountering worsening weather conditions, after leaving Lochmaddy
at 7.20am yesterday, Caledonian MacBrayne's MV Hebrides had to abandon
efforts to reach Uig and finally managed to berth at Tarbert, Harris, at
12.15pm.
CalMac's public affairs manager Hugh Dan MacLennan said the skipper had
hoped to complete the journey during a "weather window" but conditions had
suddenly deteriorated after the boat set off.
He said: "There were 44 passengers on board and on passage the boat had
force 12 winds, which is basically a hurricane. There are difficulties
getting into Uig at the best of times, but the added complication of having
to cope with a hurricane is testament to the seamanship and skills that we
like to think we display when called on and that is built on years of
experience."
The service was one of many CalMac routes disrupted yesterday with ferries
to Islay, Colonsay, Iona, Gigha and Stornoway - which experienced 70-knot
squalls - cancelled.
Mr MacLennan said: "The Lord of the Isles was unable to land at Tiree
due to the continuous adverse weather and the Isle of Mull between Oban and Craignure on Mull lost two liferafts over the side." |
