Pentalina to be brought back into service

The mv Pentalina will return to service later this month, Pentland Ferries has confirmed.

This follows the grounding of mv Alfred on Tuesday, July 5.

Sailings are due to resume on Thursday, July 21, with the Pentalina due to undertake the daily crossings for the time being.

The Alfred is set to depart St Margaret’s Hope this Saturday, though repairs work on the vessel has already begun.

Managing director of Pentland Ferries, Helen Inkster, said: “We very much regret that we have had to extend the suspension period. We had hoped to have the mv Pentalina back in service on Monday, but this has now been delayed due to the late arrival of goods from Europe through the port of Dover. We did all we could to try and speed up the process but, disappointingly, the circumstances were beyond our control.

“The mv Alfred is due to leave St Margaret’s Hope on Saturday for arrival in dry dock, Belfast, on Monday. Despite the departure being later than we had hoped, pre-fabrication work has already started to ensure that there is no time lost in carrying out the repairs and bringing the vessel back into service.

“We have done our utmost to keep the duration of the service suspension to a minimum. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience to our passengers and greatly appreciate their patience at this time.

“We look forward to seeing the mv Pentalina return to service.”