LOCH BUIE

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Departures cancelled and changed due to technical issue

Due to the ongoing issue of the 'Loch Buie' serving on the route Fionnphort-Iona, the scheduled departures from Iona on Jan 6, 2025, at 06:05 a.m. and 5:25 p.m. and from Fionnphort at 08:15 a.m. and 5:10 p.m. have been cancelled. The departure from Fionnphort at 4.15 p.m. departs earlier at 3:45 p.m. and from Iona at 4.30 p.m. will now depart at 4 p.m.

Ferry assisted distressed fishing vessel

On the morning of Dec 13, 2024, the 'Loch Buie', which operates the service between Iona and Fionnphort, been tasked with helping the British Coastguard respond to a mayday call. The ferry was heading south of Mull in the direction of Colonsay. The was is co-ordinating the response to a report made about 8.15 a.m. of a fishing vessel in difficulty off Mull. The ferry service has thus been suspended. An SAR helicopter has also been deployed as well as the RNLI lifeboats from Oban and Islay. The Oban lifeboat 'Campbell Watson' launched at 8.38 a.m. after the fishing vessel with three persons onboard started taking on water south of Iona. The HM Coastguard helicopter was on scene and relaying communications by 9.15 a.m. When the lifeboat arrived on scene at 10.00 a.m. the 'Loch Buie' had established a tow to the vessel which appeared to be listing heavily to starboard. It turned out that the vessel had run aground and had taken a large wave onboard which had filled the hold. The crew of the fishing vessel had prepared their life raft, which was trailing behind their ship ready, if there was a need, to abandon the vessel. In heavy seas the volunteer crew made the decision to transfer a salvage pump to the vessel to assist with the pumping out of as much water as possible from below deck. By 11.00 a.m. the crew of the fishing vessel was confident that most of the water had been cleared but there was still a list to starboard side due to the movement of the catch and fishing gear. With no propulsion or steering, the decision was made to tow the ship to the nearest safe and suitable port. At this point the Islay lifeboat took over the tow to Oban with the Oban lifeboat closely monitoring alongside. Oban’s lifeboat took over the tow at 12.45 p.m. and the Islay lifeboat stood down. The volunteer crew arrived back in Oban with the casualty and secured her alongside at 5 p.m.

Ferry suffered engine breakdown

Ferry services to Iona have been disrupted after a breakdown of the 'Loch Buie's forward main engine in the morning of Aug 4, 2021, which meant the cancellation of at least one sailing in the morning of Aug 5. Engineers were working to resolve the issue overnight. In the afternoon it was not yet known what impact there was on timetabled sailings on the route from Mull to Iona.