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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sunday ferry makes first sailing | Sunday ferry makes first sailing |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The controversial first scheduled Sunday ferry sailing from Stornoway on Lewis to mainland Scotland has gone ahead as planned. | The controversial first scheduled Sunday ferry sailing from Stornoway on Lewis to mainland Scotland has gone ahead as planned. |
| There has been strong opposition on the island, where the Sabbath day has traditionally been strictly observed. | There has been strong opposition on the island, where the Sabbath day has traditionally been strictly observed. |
| A small group of protesters prayed and sang a psalm as cars boarded the boat, but several hundred people clapped. | A small group of protesters prayed and sang a psalm as cars boarded the boat, but several hundred people clapped. |
| Supporters said it would boost the economy of the Hebridean island and offer local people freedom to travel. | Supporters said it would boost the economy of the Hebridean island and offer local people freedom to travel. |
| A small group of about a dozen protesters gathered in Stornoway ahead of the sailing to Ullapool, which left at 1430 BST. | A small group of about a dozen protesters gathered in Stornoway ahead of the sailing to Ullapool, which left at 1430 BST. |
| Equality laws | Equality laws |
| As cars lined up in the ferry terminal car park, protesters gathered in silence behind a banner. | As cars lined up in the ferry terminal car park, protesters gathered in silence behind a banner. |
| It read: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy". | It read: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy". |
| They sang Psalm 46 - God is our refuge and our strength - and prayed for the nation to "turn its back from sin and wickedness". | They sang Psalm 46 - God is our refuge and our strength - and prayed for the nation to "turn its back from sin and wickedness". |
| A number of women wiped away tears as they prayed for a return to the Lord's commandments. | A number of women wiped away tears as they prayed for a return to the Lord's commandments. |
| The crossing was undertaken by the route's usual ferry, the MV Isle of Lewis, after a fault in the exhaust on Friday was repaired sooner than expected. | |
| A spokesman for ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne said: "We're pleased to get under way after the difficulties over the last couple of days. | |
| "It's all gone as planned." | |
| The MV Isle of Arran was drafted in after the Isle of Lewis broke down. | |
| The former boat ran a number of emergency crossings to clear the backlog of passengers. | |
| CalMac said it could be breaking equality laws if it did not run ferries seven days a week. | |
| Campaigners for the service said it would be good for tourism and offer those who want to use it more flexibility about when they travel. | Campaigners for the service said it would be good for tourism and offer those who want to use it more flexibility about when they travel. |
| As the ferry left Stornoway a crowd of several hundred gathered to applaud, and wave to those on board. | As the ferry left Stornoway a crowd of several hundred gathered to applaud, and wave to those on board. |
| A leaflet handed out by a group of local churches said that the peace and tranquillity of the islands was enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. | A leaflet handed out by a group of local churches said that the peace and tranquillity of the islands was enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. |
| It said: "By and large we like it like this. | It said: "By and large we like it like this. |
| "We are not oppressed by a quiet Sunday." | "We are not oppressed by a quiet Sunday." |
| It wished tourists who came to Lewis by ferry a "happy and blessed trip to the islands". | It wished tourists who came to Lewis by ferry a "happy and blessed trip to the islands". |