The funding has enabled owner David Steele to purchase a new, larger passenger boat, the ‘Enchanted Isle’.

Operating in the Western Isles, Uist Sea Tours offers popular and unique island boat trips to the Dual World Heritage Site of St Kilda, a significant breeding ground for seabirds and a site of historical importance.

The Royal Bank of Scotland loan completed in June and has been pivotal in allowing Mr Steele to purchase a new passenger boat to expand the Uist Sea Tours offering. The popular local tour, which has run for 12 years, contributes to the region’s tourism industry and this significant purchase allows additional sailings, further driving tourism growth in the area and positively impacting the local economy.

The new vessel is a Redbay Stormforce 1650 and is a well proven vessel. The boat will allow the business to significantly increase trips to St Kilda, which we will now be able to run from April through until October, weather permitting.

Mr Steele said: “The support from the Royal Bank of Scotland has been instrumental in helping us achieve our goal of expanding our tour services.

“This new boat will not only improve the comfort of our crossings but will also allow us to operate more tours, meeting the growing demand for visits to popular historical site, St Kilda.”

Lorraine Nicolson, relationship manager at the Royal Bank of Scotland, added: “David’s dedication and commitment to providing exceptional tour experiences that showcase the beautiful islands are truly commendable.

“We are proud to invest in the growing business and support David in attracting visitors to the region which in turn contributes to the local economy.”