Anticipation for the return of the Corran ferry has once again been deflated after the Highland Council announced the MV Corran would be delayed for at least one further week.
The struggling vessel had been timetabled to be back on the Corran Narrows this week, bringing to an end its year-long absence.
However, in a statement on Tuesday the council said the 23-year-old ferry had not been granted its Passenger Carrying Certificate by the Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Monday because of a ‘bilge suction’ issue.
That issue has now been resolved, the council added, but the next possible date for an inspection was October 25 or 26. Even if it gets the certificate, two days of transport and a day in Corpach to fit ramps means the boat may return ‘the week commencing Monday October 30’.
Economy and Infrastructure Committee chairperson Councillor Ken Gowans called the setback “disappointing” and thanked the council staff for their hard work through a “challenging” period.
News that the MV Corran would miss its scheduled return date was not wholly unexpected. The MCA inspection was already a week behind its original scheduled date of October 16, while observers of the Marine Tracker website could see the boat was still in Rothesay when the announcement was made.
An email sent to the Corran Ferry Steering Group at 5.29pm on Monday also hinted at trouble, saying the weekly repair update would be ‘provided on Tuesday following the MCA inspection, as this would determine the new timeline’.
Experience also created doubt. Mid-October can now be added to the list of missed return dates that reads early April, early June, the end of June, mid August, and the end of August.
Reaction to the news that the boat was delayed again was scathing.
Michael Foxley, vice chairperson of Ardgour Community Council, said West Lochaber peninsula communities were frustrated and angry.
“Yet again there are more delays to the return of the service, and yet again this reinforces our concerns regarding the ongoing reliability of the MV Corran,” he said.
“The more of these delays we suffer, the more that Highland Council must realise that this vessel simply isn’t fit for purpose, and needs to be replaced urgently. It simply isn’t acceptable for them to ask our communities to wait another four or more years until we get a reliable new ferry in place.”
Joanne Matheson, formerly of Acharacle Community Council, echoed the feeling that the latest delay was synonymous with a problem that would have repercussions for years.
“The businesses that have already closed won’t come back. The people who’ve already moved out of the area won’t come back. The visitors that now only know the Corran crossing as totally unreliable won’t come back. Our communities can’t begin to fully recover until we have a totally reliable service – or crossing – reinstated.
“The fact that Highland Council currently plans to take four or more years to deliver that solution beggars belief.”
Belief that a full solution may take multiple years stems from Highland Council’s preference for a replacement electric ferry. In May the council agreed to bid for up to £50m of UK levelling up funding to cover such a vessel.
Critics of that plan believe money should instead be invested in a new diesel boat, which would be delivered more quickly, or a fixed link, such as a bridge. A survey was given to local communities in September by the Corran Action Group asking whether they would prefer a ferry or fixed link crossing, and results are due to be released shortly.
Currently the Corran Narrows is being served by a replacement passenger service, which will continue to run until the MV Corran returns. No date has been set for the return of the MV Corran’s designated vehicle backup vessel, the 48-year old Maid of Glencoul, which has been out of service since August.
Highland Council has said engineers continue to investigate the Maid’s steering system, and expects parts to be delivered from Kongsberg within 10 weeks. The Maid also failed for two months in Easter, and again in June.
Political pressure may be growing on the council to find a permanent solution.
Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP, said: “The Corran Narrows is the busiest single-vessel ferry route in Scotland, and the impact of the MV Corran being out of service for a full year has been absolutely massive.
“It is still not too late for Highland Council to offer some sort of support, such as free or discounted travel for peninsula residents and businesses for a fixed period of time.
“I am eagerly awaiting the results of the recent community survey, and can only hope the council’s engagement and communication on future and hopefully more resilient options will be significantly improved on their efforts of the past year.”
Displeasure with the ferry could reach the Scottish Government next week when Deputy First Minister Shona Robison is a guest at the Scottish Rural & Islands Parliament in Fort William.
She has already received a request to meet a member of the Corran Action Group, and protests are likely.