TIREE LINKSPAN CLOSURE POSTPONED
Plans to replace the linkspan at Tiree Ferry Terminal have been postponed to allow the delivery of essential goods to the island, which has been affected by recent storms.
The linkspan was due to be out of operation from Monday 24 February until Tuesday 17 March for a linkspan replacement project. However, due to poor weather conditions in recent weeks, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and Calmac have decided to delay the linkspan closure.
CMAL and Calmac will continue to monitor the weather and will provide an update on Friday 21 February. The closure will not commence before Friday 28 February. For those with a requirement to ship essential goods before the closure, please get in touch with Oban port office on 01631 700 506.
Ramsay Muirhead, Director of Port Infrastructure and Planning at CMAL, said:
“Weather across Scotland has been atrocious in recent weeks and it has impacted the number of ferry services to Tiree. In partnership with Calmac, we’ve decided to delay the start of the linkspan replacement project to allow deliveries to the island.
“We don’t make the decision to delay an engineering project lightly, but in the circumstances, we must ensure community needs are given priority. It’s a reality of maritime engineering that sometimes the weather and sea conditions impact on plans. It also reflects the reality of island life and underlines how vital ferry services are to the islands.”
CMAL is replacing the Tiree linkspan as part of a £3.7 million project to replace the linkspans at Coll and Tiree ferry terminals. The new linkspan at Coll was installed in November 2019.
When the Tiree linkspan closes for replacement, vehicles will be unable to travel to the island. CalMac will operate a passenger only service, supplemented by a third-party freight vessel service.
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