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MV Isle of Lewis, which operates to Barra, needs steelwork replaced during annual maintenance, and will not return to service until Sunday 23 March, almost a month later than expected.

The tender, which closed last week, listed three key elements: resurfacing the aluminium desk to improve slip resistance, repainting the steelwork, and re-tensioning the suspension cables, which "has not been completed before and will restore the profile of the central span following the initial relaxation of the cables and abutments".

According to a tender published by the City of London Corporation, the City Bridge Foundation is looking for a contractor to resurface the crossing's deck, repaint the steelwork, and re-tension the suspension cables.

The need for extended repairs to the steelwork on MV Caledonian Isles - which involves removing its engines - has also had a knock-on effect on other west coast ferry routes.

The nets are nearly invisible from a distance, blending into the steelwork.