Ferry services between a seaside resort and a popular daytrippers' destination have been cancelled after an outbreak of Covid among CalMac Staff.
Sailings between Largs and Millport were suspended on Sunday morning following the breakdown of one vessel and the discovery of a cluster of coronavirus cases among the staff on the replacement boat.
The MV Loch Shira was withdrawn from service due to a suspected leak within its propulsion system, and was due to be replaced by the MV Loch Tarbet.
READ MORE: EIS leader urges early school closure amid staffing concerns
However, this ferry has also been taken off the route to allow deep cleaning to take place after a number of staff returned positive tests for Covid.
The Millport Ferry
With other members of the crew being identified as close contacts of those already infected, a replacment crew is now being sought.
READ MORE: 'Politicians are rightly spooked over Omicron'
Cal Mac said in a statement: "Due to several crew members returning positive covid tests with current crew being identified as close contacts, MV Loch Tarbert requires to be withdrawn from service to allow for the vessel to be cleaned and crew replaced.
"We are currently working to source replacement crew. When service does resume capacity will be reduced therefore, we would ask passengers to consider their journey and only travel if essential."
Services are expected to resume at 1.30pm.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel