Ferry Operations Disrupted by Strong Winds

Ferry services across Scotland have been interrupted as powerful winds affect the country. Gusts reaching 82mph were recorded in South Uist following the activation of a national yellow weather warning at 07:00. This warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 21:00 on Sunday. P&O Ferries’ routes between Cairnryan and Larne in Northern Ireland are set to halt from 20:00, having already been cancelled for Sunday. Concurrently, almost all CalMac ferry services are experiencing disruptions, with complete cancellations affecting routes such as Largs-Millport, Mallaig-Oban, and Ullapool-Stornoway. Several services operated by Northlink Ferries, which connect Aberdeen with the Orkney and Shetland Isles, have also been impacted by the weather conditions. Additionally, all ferries scheduled to cross the Pentland Firth have been cancelled for both Saturday and Sunday. Stena Line has also cancelled multiple crossings between Cairnryan and Belfast. Meanwhile, wind gusts of 81mph were recorded in Kirkwall and 77mph in Stornoway. P&O Ferries had previously announced that no Sunday services would run until 20:00, but subsequently advanced these cancellations to Saturday night due to the prevailing weather. A spokesperson for the operator stated: “Due to adverse weather conditions, all P&O Ferries sailings between Larne and Cairnryan have been cancelled from 20:00 tonight until at least 20:00 tomorrow night. “We ask our customers please not to travel to either of the ports if their sailing has been cancelled, to avoid causing traffic congestion.” The company advised customers to manage their bookings online or by calling them. In an online statement, CalMac indicated that the onset of windy weather means “some of our services may be delayed or cancelled throughout our network, to ensure the safety of customers and colleagues, which is our priority.” It advised passengers to follow the company’s social media accounts for the latest travel information. Rail operator ScotRail confirmed that speed restrictions might be implemented on some routes throughout the weekend. The yellow warning currently encompasses all of Scotland, the North of England, parts of Wales, and parts of Northern Ireland. On Sunday, its coverage will be extended to include further areas of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.