THE new CalMac ferry that will carry up to 143 cars between Stornoway and Ullapool is expected in Scotland today, but is unlikely to start work for some weeks yet.
The £41.8 million Loch Seaforth left the Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft (FSG) shipyard in Germany earlier this week and is due in Greenock this morning, where outstanding work, inspections and sea trials will all be undertaken.
Improvements to Storno-way harbour will delay the deployment of the vessel on her designated route, and she is likely to carry only passengers for a period early next year.
The Ullapool Harbour Trust is replacing the 42-year old car ramp with a two-lane linkspan at the mainland ferry terminal. According to the trust it means that for "a six-week period the ferry will be unable to discharge vehicles - a passenger-only run is being planned."
It is understood CalMac is considering taking cars and lorries to and from Lewis by a ferry to Uig on Skye during this period. But the linkspan there is not suitable for the new vessel, so she is likely to provide the passenger service to Ullapool, where passengers will be able to disembark on to the pier.
A CalMac spokesman said: "We are working through our options to find a way of minimising the impact on our customers of the planned works on Ullapool linkspan in the early part of 2015.
"We currently do not envisage these works having impact on the ability of the MV Loch Seaforth to enter service on the route."
The construction of the ship was financed by Lloyd's Banking Group, which has leased it to publicly owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. It will be operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.
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