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Sunday ferry 'will go as planned' Sunday ferry makes first sailing
(about 21 hours later)
The controversial first Sunday ferry sailing from Stornoway on Lewis to mainland Scotland will go ahead as planned, the operators have said. The controversial first Sunday ferry sailing from Stornoway on Lewis to mainland Scotland has gone ahead as planned, despite protests.
The managing director of Caledonian MacBrayne said he was "very hopeful" the usual ferry would be repaired in time for the Sunday afternoon sailing. There has been strong opposition to the service on the island, where Sunday has traditionally been strictly observed,
A replacement vessel has been operating on the route since the ferry suffered engine problems on Friday. A small group of protesters gathered in Stornoway ahead of the sailing to Ullapool, which left at about 1430 BST.
It should complete its duties in the early hours of the island's Sabbath. Operators CalMac said they could not refuse to operate a service on the grounds of religion or belief.
A backlog of hundreds of would-be passengers built up at the mainland port of Ullapool after the MV Isle of Lewis developed a fault. A replacement vessel had been operating on the route since the usual Isle of Lewis ferry suffered engine problems on Friday.
The MV Isle of Arran, was drafted in to make crossings on Saturday to catch up. The MV Isle of Arran was drafted in to make crossings on Saturday but the Isle of Lewis was back in service to make the first scheduled Sunday crossing.
Sabbath day
It was expected to arrive in Stornoway for the final time at about 0300 BST on Sunday.
CalMac said that the Isle of Lewis should be back in service in time to make the first Sunday crossing from Lewis to the mainland.
Managing director Peter Preston said: "We are aiming very much to have the Isle of Lewis back on schedule for 1430 BST on Sunday."
The plan for a sailing on the island's Sabbath day has been controversial.The plan for a sailing on the island's Sabbath day has been controversial.
Councillors in the Western Isles opposed the Sunday service describing it as an attack on the culture, heritage and way of life in Lewis. Councillors in the Western Isles opposed the Sunday service, describing it as an attack on the culture, heritage and way of life in Lewis.
However, others said it would be a great benefit to the islands.However, others said it would be a great benefit to the islands.
Mr Preston said the main issue for CalMac was legal advice which said refusing to provide a service on the grounds of religion or belief would "most likely" be in breach of the Equalities Act 2006. CalMac managing director Phil Preston said the main issue was legal advice which said refusing to provide a service on the grounds of religion or belief would "most likely" be in breach of the Equalities Act 2006.
James Tulloch of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland said it "grieved the spirit when the law of God is broken". The Reverend Dr James Tallach of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland said it "grieved the spirit when the law of God is broken".
He said the fourth commandment states "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy". He said the fourth commandment states "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy".
"CalMac made a great play that they must keep the law", he said."CalMac made a great play that they must keep the law", he said.
"Well, I ask them what about the law of God?"Well, I ask them what about the law of God?
"We will not be tried at the end of the day, when all of us stand before the judgment seat of Christ, on the basis of EU law.""We will not be tried at the end of the day, when all of us stand before the judgment seat of Christ, on the basis of EU law."
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