Gale-force winds limit barge services to Russell and Macleay islands

Gale-force winds which whipped across Moreton Bay on Tuesday have wreaked havoc with bay island residents, stranding many with cars on the mainland after barge services were halted.

Gale-force winds which whipped across Moreton Bay over the past day have wreaked havoc with bay island residents, stranding many on the mainland after car barge services to Russell Island were halted yesterday.

Gusts reached a top of 68.5km/h at 8.20am yesterday (Tuesday, May 31) when Sealink made the decision to halt services to the island.

It is about an hour on the car barge from the Redland Bay ferry terminal.

Tuesday’s warning to barge users.

Sealink staff said car barges would return to a normal schedule on Thursday and there would be limited services to Macleay Island today (Wednesday) as wind gusts were expected.

Staff said the three car barges were still running to the bay islands today, but bookings had been heavy as some cars had been stranded on the mainland when services were halted.

“We are well booked today and anyone who needs to get their car back on to one of the islands, needs to call us to organise a booking,” staff said.

“We are still taking vehicles from Russell to Macleay, but all bookings have to be done on the phone not online.

“We only have one barge operating to Macleay today and the wind is playing a part as to why there is only one barge going.

“Our other two barges are running to Russell, Karragarra and Lamb and services are back to normal for Russell Island today.”

There were no changes to passenger ferry services to the bay islands.