Passengers sent back to ship hours early due to weather

CRUISE passengers were asked to return to the Costa Favolosa hours early today due to the high winds and rain. 

Holidaymakers had been due to get a taste of the isles during their visit today, after the 290-metre ship sailed in from Hamburg in Germany.

But the passengers were instructed to return to ship at just 12.30pm – six hours before they had initially been due to depart.

The Costa Favolosa was still in the harbour as of 4pm.

Lerwick Port Authority said the vessel master was responsible for making operational decisions.

Assistant manager of the Lerwick tourist office, Robin Mouatt, said a representative from the pier walked in and announced cruise passengers needed to begin making their way back to the ship.

He said this was because she planned to depart early.

“As I happened to be about to go to the bank, I said I would help pop into the shops on the south end of the street to help advise shop workers if they had any cruise passengers coming in from 12.30pm could they advise them to make their way to the pier,” Mouatt said.

He said shop workers helped to spread the message to cruise passengers.

The heavy rain has caused landslips in Weisdale and Kergord today.

Meanwhile a yellow Met Office weather warning for rain is in place until 8pm.