Winter gales force ferry cancellations

After the Islands were placed on a possible risk “Yellow” weather alert, The Balearia company had to stop its vessel leaving at 7.30 am from Ibiza when heavy seas and high winds made the crossing unsafe.

Although the Ports Authority remained alert to worsening conditions, scheduled sailings later in the day remained in place. Also affected was the Mediterranea Pituisas ferry line which cancelled two sailings between Formentera and Ibiza, one at 7.30am and the second two hours later at 9.30am.

Iscomar meanwhile, kept its vessels running according to schedule with just one alteration in the 12.30pm departure from Alcudia to Ciutadella on Minorca - the vessel finally left half an hour late at 1pm. Iscomar alerted passengers to the fact that adjustments would be made to sailing times were the weather to worsen.

The Met. Office declared a weather alert from 10am to midnight yesterday when gusts of 90 kilometres per hour swept the Majorcan coastline and the Tramuntana mountains, 80 kph in the north of Minorca, and 70 kph in Ibiza and Formentera.

Conditions are likely to worsen tomorrow when a more serious “Orange” weather alert will be in place from 6am onwards on Minorca. Heavy sea swell is expected to result in waves of between four and five metres high fanned by winds gusting to 80 kph.