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 New Vessels Named | The Clyde No More | Orkney Dawdle | Hebridean Isles Goes a-Wandering | Last Chance to Pioneer | The Irish Will See Double

NEW VESSELS NAMED
In a break from normal maritime tradition the Company have announced the names to be bestowed on the two new ferries currently under construction on the Clyde. The largest vessel, being built by Ferguson of Port Glasgow, is to be named HEBRIDES, a singularly appropriate name given that she is designed to serve on the Uig-Tarbert and Uig- Lochmaddy services on which car ferry services were first introduced in 1964 by the then new HEBRIDES of 1964. Such has been the rise in traffic and corresponding need for a larger vessel that the new vessel could carry her predecessor on her car deck!
The second new vessel building, to be introduced to the Small Isles service from Mallaig, is to be named LOCHNEVIS, again an appropriate name given that her predecessor of 1934 served Skye from Mallaig and that the new vessel will also eventually serve Loch Nevis for cargo only.
The LOCHNEVIS is due to be launched at Troon on 6th April and should enter service by the end of June while HEBRIDES will be launched on 1st August and take up service in November.
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THE CLYDE NO MORE
The winter of 1999/2000 has been a historic one, sadly for the wrong reasons, in that for the first time in the Company's history none of the larger units have come to the Clyde for annual overhaul. Under EU regulations contracts worth more than E150,000 have to go out to competitive tender and subsequently none were won by Clyde yards. Thus, ISLE OF MULL went to Birkenhead for overhaul while HEBRIDEAN ISLES, ISLE OF LEWIS, LORD OF THE ISLES, CLANSMAN and ISLE OF ARRAN all journeyed to Wallsend on the Tyne.
In a move that will greatly boost Kodak profits all enthusiasts will be glad to know that they will have to take another batch of photographs of the larger vessels due to an important change in their appearance. To meet new regulations each of them, with the exception of CLANSMAN, has had a lifeboat removed to be replaced with a fast rescue craft of the type first introduced by CLANSMAN.
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ORKNEY DAWDLE
While on her way back to familiar waters on completion of her overhaul CLANSMAN deviated slightly off course to pay a 'show the flag' visit to Stromness in Orkney. In so doing she followed in the footsteps of her predecessor of 1964 which was chartered to relieve on the Stromness to Scrabster service in the early days of its conversion to a car ferry service and, more recently, ISLE OF LEWIS, which also 'showed the flag' in late 1998. The visit is of significance in that an announcement is expected shortly as to which company has won the franchise to operate the Northern Isles services. Although at least six companies put in tenders it is felt that P&O, the current operators, and the joint bid made by CAL MAC and WIGHTLINK of Portsmouth are the leading contenders. Will red funnels become an everyday sight in the far north?
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HEBRIDEAN ISLES GOES A-WANDERING
Having spent all her life sailing in the northern portion of the Hebrides the month of March sees HEBRIDEAN ISLES moving to pastures new, albeit temporarily, when she relieves ISLE OF ARRAN on the Islay service. Although she has served Colonsay from Oban this will be her first visit to Port Ellen and Port Askaig. She is to be displaced from the Lochmaddy and Tarbert routes by the new HEBRIDES towards the end of the year and it seems most likely that she will transfer to the Islay service permanently thereafter.
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THE LAST CHANCE TO PIONEER?
After a 'first' we now have a 'last'. On Saturday 11th March PIONEER leaves the Clyde to begin her annual visit to Mallaig to relieve LOCHMOR for annual overhaul on the Clyde. However, this will be the last time that she carries out this duty as, with the introduction of the new LOCHNEVIS and the custom built island terminals, she is not suitable for this duty. Added to this is the fact, sadly, that her own future appears to be severely limited and she is supposed to be the vessel to be replaced by the new HEBRIDES.
Since delivery in 1974 PIONEER has been an excellent servant of the Company and has had spells as both the designated Islay and Mallaig-Armadale ferry. She has also been heavily used in a relief capacity and has only failed to sail on one route, that between Ullapool and Stornoway.
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THE IRISH WILL SEE DOUBLE
The people of Rathlin could be forgiven for thinking their eyesight is playing them tricks when, for the first time, two ferries will sail on the Ballycastle route. Upon her return from repairs at Shandon on the Gareloch the regular ferry CANNA will join her relief BRUERNISH in providing a two ship service from the island to Ballycastle. This is not a sign that the traffic to this idyllic island has gone through the roof but is a temporary measure to ferry lorries while roadworks are carried out on the island and is only expected to last for a limited period.
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