Press Release

NUMBER 1 PIER LINKSPAN - NUMBER 2 PIER WEIGHBRIDGE

As part of the ongoing Maintenance Programme around the harbour, Stornoway Port Authority Board recently agreed to seek competitive tenders for repairs to the steel piling on the Number 1 Pier Linkspan together with the installation of sacrificial anodes to protect the underwater structure from further corrosion. Scott Wilson (Scotland) Ltd Consulting Engineers have been instructed to prepare and issue tender documents for the project. The Number 1 Linkspan is used daily by the freight ferry “Muirneag”.

Commenting Chief Executive John Maclennan said “In common with many other Ports in the UK, the problem of Accelerated Low Water Corrosion, is evident in the harbour. The Authority has already spent over half a million pounds addressing this problem at Cromwell Street Quay and Number 3 Pier. In terms of maintaining transport links to and from the Island it is vital for the Port to have two Linkspans not only to meet existing demand, but also to provide essential back up in the event of either linkspan having to be withdrawn from service for any reason”. It is anticipated that the work will be completed by end of April.

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Press Release

NUMBER 2 PIER WEIGHBRIDGE

Stornoway Port Authority Board has decided to investigate the cost of complete replacement of the Weighbridge at the Port’s Number 2 Pier. At a recent meeting the Board heard from their Harbour Master Captain Torquil Macleod that the weighbridge failed its annual load test due to corrosion of the sub-structure. Commenting Chief Executive John Maclennan said “The Number 2 Pier weighbridge is used mostly for bulk cargoes such as coal, cement and road salt. The Authority does own and operate another weighbridge at Number 3 Pier used mainly for weighing vehicles boarding the Ferry. Members felt the use of the Ferry Terminal Weighbridge was not a suitable alternative as it was best to keep Ferry Traffic and Bulk Cargo Operations completely separate”

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