A HIGHLAND ferry service is out of action again, with specialist engineers being called in to investigate the vessel after it returned to service just months ago following a fault with its propeller.
The Corran Ferry crossing of Loch Linnhe, which links the wider Lochaber area with communities in the Ardgour peninsula in the west, was suspended on Thursday due to a fault being detected on the MV Corran.
A spokesperson for the Highland Council said the outage of the services is expected to last into early next week after engineers identified the issue as being related to an onboard pump.
They added that the component is being transferred to a specialist repair company in Glasgow for further assessment, while the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Voith, is mobilising a specialist engineer to support investigations on site.
The relief vessel, The Maid of Glencoul, is also out of service as it is currently receiving its annual refit, with sea trials scheduled to start on August 10.
“Every effort is being made to expedite completion. In the meantime, no vehicle capacity is available and alternative routes are via roads or foot passenger only,” a spokesperson for the council said.
They added: “The A861 alternative routes around the Loch are expected to be busier than usual.”
Drivers have been asked to allow extra journey time, avoid travelling in convoy and use passing places to let traffic safely pass.
In an update, the Highland Council said on Saturday that foot passenger services between both Corran and Camusnagaul are operating at the normal timetable, and the Camusnagaul–Fort William service is also operating an enhanced timetable to “support increased demand”.
A shuttle bus service is also available between Corran and Fort William.
It departs Corran at 8.05am and operates hourly until 6.05pm, while the Fort William bus leaves at 8.45am and also runs hourly until 6.45pm.
A spokesperson added: “The Highland Council sincerely apologises for the disruption and inconvenience caused, we recognise the significant impact this has on local communities, businesses and visitors, and restoring the vessel to safe operation as quickly as possible remains our highest priority.”
It comes after the MV Corran was pulled from service in March after a technical issue with the forward prop was discovered.
The vessel had just returned to service for 24 hours following a three-month annual refit.
It returned to service at the start of April.
Construction has already started on the £30 million Corran Ferry Infrastructure Improvement Scheme landside project, where over the next 18 months major upgrades on both shores of the Narrows will be carried out.
Work includes a new slipway and overnight berthing pier at Ardgour, alongside a new slipway, breakwater, marshalling area, parking, cycle path and enhanced public facilities at Nether Lochaber, north of the Corran settlement.
