A broken generator which acts as a “spare” engine on a new £42 million ferry has been replaced, after the vessel was withdrawn from service.
Operator Cal Mac was given a legal deadline by the UK maritime authorites to get it fixed by the end of this month or stop commercial sailings.
The affected unit is designed to act as back-up for the Stornoway ferry, MV Loch Seaforth, during a main engine breakdown in addition to providing electrical power to onboard equipment and machinery.
In November, the £42 million new vessel was delayed in drydock for extra work after the fault was discovered.
A serious malfunction was encountered with the affected unit – which was designed in Finland and manufactured in China – during her first drydock which was carried out at the Cammell Laird yard in Birkenhead near Liverpool.
Cal Mac successfully applied for an official dispensation to continue passenger services using a temporary generator with a deadline of around the end of this month for a new unit to be fitted and working satisfactorily.
A Cal Mac spokesman explained: “The MV Loch Seaforth’s generator developed a fault during her refit and a new one ordered but it was not available during the refit period and a temporary one was installed to allow her to return to the route.
“This was agreed by the relevant regulatory authorities on the understanding that the new generator would be fitted within three months.
“We waited until the MV Isle of Lewis completed her own refit and was available for cover and arranged for the work to be carried out in Stornoway.
“Carrying out the work there rather than in dry dock on the Clyde or further afield had the added benefit of minimising her time out of service.”