CalMac ferry runs aground

From John Kinsman, station manager at Coastwatch St Monans

The MV Hebrides, well known to Arran folk, has hit rocks and run aground in the Western Isles.  She suffered engine problems when approaching the pier at Lochmaddy.on Sunday September 25th and hit the rocky shore near the yacht marina.

A CalMac spokesperson said “We can confirm there was an incident at Lochmaddy on North Uist. The incident happened at 11.05am as the MV Hebrides, travelling from Tarbet on Harris, was approaching Lochmaddy harbour. A technical problem led the ferry being unable to reduce speed enough for the routine docking and she struck both pontoons in Lochmaddy harbour and rocks. No one was hurt and the ferry’s hull remained intact”.

There were 76 passengers and crew on board and 13 cars, one lorry and a caravan.

A team of divers will make an underwater inspection of the hull and an inquiry into what happened has been launched.