25/04/09.

 

The Hebridean Princess, one of the world’s smallest luxury liners, and whose guests have included the Queen, is set to sail again less than two weeks after her owners went into administration.

Yesterday All Leisure Group plc announced it had signed an agreement worth £1.4 million for the acquisition of the ship that guided the Royal Family around Scotland’s west coast in 2006.

Based in Oban, the former Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry has been providing cruises from the Sound of Iona to Loch Nevis and from Gigha to Lewis since the 1980s. With a crew of thirty-eight, the ship caters for forty-nine passengers offering thirty cabins on board.

Earlier this month administrators Ernst & Young were called in after Hebridean International Cruises Ltd and Leisure and Marine Holdings Ltd sailed into stormy waters after the ship had been running at a loss for some time. This followed the sale of the other vessel owned by the company, the Hebridean Spirit.

The deal not only secures the shipping service, but also much needed funds into the nation’s tourism industry. Revenue generated from the cruise industry in Scotland is £23 million.

Source: The Herald, Friday 24^th April. 

 

The 41^st Annual General Meeting of the West Highland Steamer Club was held on Friday 24^th April with Club President Mr Ian Somerville in the Chair.

After the formal business of the evening was completed Mr Robert Warnock, Club President 1980-1982, gave a slide presentation.

Robert’s slides featured not only ships throughout the Highlands and Islands, but also landscape and pictorial scenes.

The AGM brings another successful season of meetings to a conclusion. A new season of winter meetings will open on Friday October 30^th 2009.

All meetings are held in The Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow round the corner from Charing Cross Station.

Non-members welcome.

Duncan Wilson.

 

The small luxury cruise liner Hebridean Princess, which regularly cruises the west coast of Scotland, is up for sale while its sister ship, Hebridean Sprit, which sails mainly in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, has already been sold.

Last week accountants Ernst and Young, who were appointed as joint administrators of Hebridean Cruises, said they were not in a position to refund bookings on the Hebridean Spirit.

Administrator Colin Dempster said the brand strength of the Hebridean Princess, which is captained by Oban man Ian Stevenson, had allowed them to continue operating the ship in the meantime until a buyer could be found.

No bookings or sailings will be cancelled on the Hebridean Princess, which departed from Oban last week on a cruise of the Western Isles, but the administrators said they could not refund bookings on the Hebridean Spirit.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 16^th April.

 

Ileachs have made a plea for the redevelopment of Port Ellen harbour to be completed in time for the arrival of the island’s new ferry in 2011.

The message was delivered at a Ferries Review meeting in the Columba Centre on Islay last Tuesday.

Port Ellen harbour is due for redevelopment but the island’s new ferry will not be able to berth at the port in its present state and will only be able to access the island’s other terminal at Port Askaig.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), which will carry out the redevelopment, told the meeting that if Scottish Government funding for the Port Ellen project was in place by September, then the works could be at a satisfactory stage for the new vessel’s arrival.

Islay-based councillor Robin Curry was amongst those who urged CMAL and the Scottish Government to do all in its power to make sure money was available it time.

He said: “The community has always stated that Islay requires the two ports of Port Ellen and Port Askaig.

“ I would urge as many people as possible top write to their MSPs expressing the need for work to be undertaken at Port Ellen in time for the new vessel’s arrival.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 16^th.

 

 

13/04/09

 

The final report into ferry options for the Isle of Lismore is likely to go before the Scottish Government in the next month or so.

But there is not likely to be any change to the present services for at least two years and more likely beyond that.

Lorna Spencer, director of harbours and piers for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) told a meeting of Port Appin and Lismore people last week that it would be down to the Scottish Government to make a final decision on the options arrived at.

But the Lismore STAG (Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance) process would inform that decision and was likely to be fed into the complex ferries review being undertaken.

The first draft of that ferries review, covering all services in Scotland, is not likely to go out to public consultation until after September.

The meeting at Appin Hall heard from Paul McCartney and Scott Leitham of MVA Consultancy, which is carrying out the Lismore STAG.

They explained the STAG process and how the options in the final report were arrived at.

These were to maintain the status quo, a vehicle ferry from Oban to Achnacroish and passenger only from Port Appin, with new vessels; provide a passenger only service from Oban to Achnacroish and a vehicle ferry from Port Appin ;or drop the service from Oban and have a vehicle ferry and bus service to Oban from Port Appin.

After the costs and benefits were weighed up the best value option was the last – but it would involve building new piers, for which planning would take at least two years and providing a new ferry, for which there is currently no money.

Ms Spencer said: “I don’t see any rapid descion being made by the Government. When they have a strategy for going forward [for the ferry review], this will not sit into that strategy.

“ The budget for ferries, piers and harbours, which runs to 2011-2012, does not have any funding for any of these options,” she said, adding “ but that doesn’t mean money couldn’t be found from somewhere else.

“This is not the end of the process – this is just the beginning”.

If the Scottish Government decided to go ahead with any of the options, she said CMAL would come back to the Port Appin and Lismore communities at the development of designs stage, before planning was lodged.

This would allow the communities another opportunity to raise any objections including concerns regarding traffic flows and parking, which have been issues raised by the Appin residents during the STAG consultation.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 9^th April.

 

The Scottish Government’s ferries review Steering Group visited Islay on Tuesday March 31^st to gather information and to inform the public on consultation on the future of ferry links to and from and between Scotland’s islands.

The principal message given to the group was that Islay had fought long and hard for a two ferry service operating from both its existing ports all year round and that islanders saw no sound reason for this level to be reduced.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 9^th.

 

A number of events to raise awareness of the opportunities created by cheaper ferry tickets available to some of the islands have been held by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

The Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) fares pilot scheme, which runs until spring 2011, has the potential to stimulate the number of visitors, increase the attractiveness of the islands as somewhere to live and open up new markets on Coll, Tiree, Barra, Benbecula, Harris and Lewis.

Staff from HIE, Halcrow Consulting and the Scottish Government have joined members of the public, businesses and communities across the islands to look at different ways of achieving this.

Some of the ideas of brain-storming sessions have included better signs for visitors on Tiree; dedicated caravanning and camping facilities on Lewis; cycling packages between islands; golfing holidays on Harris; eco-tourism on Benbecula; and promoting what Coll, Tiree, Barra and Harris have on business and community websites.

Because the RET is a pilot, it will be subject to ongoing monitoring and data gathered used to evaluate the final outcome.

Positive economic impact is need to help inform decisions about the future use of RET and its possible roll out to other ferry links in Scotland.

Source The Oban Times, Thursday 9^th.    

 

A luxury cruise ship, chartered by the Queen to mark her 80th birthday, has
gone on the market after its parent company fell into administration.
The Hebridean Princess is expected to continue her scheduled cruises of the
Highlands and islands this year – but uncertainty about her future last
night led to concerns about the impact it could have on the tourist
industry.
Hebridean International Cruises Ltd filed for administration earlier this
week – just days after it sold another vessel, The Hebridean Spirit.
Colin Dempster, Ernst and Young administrator, said: “The Hebridean Spirit
has been loss-making for some time and, although she has now been sold, it
has imp-acted on the funding of the remaining group.” He said administrators
are talking with a third party about sale of the Hebridean Princess and the
company, which employs around 20 staff.
Mr Dempster said: “We are aware of the strength of the Princess brand, and
interest in the vessel has already been received. This has allowed us to
secure funding to continue the Princess schedule as planned, while we pursue
a sale as a going concern.”
The third party has been granted a “short period of exclusivity”, to allow
them to “focus discussions” to try to reach agreement on the sale.
It has been reported that industry insiders have tipped cruise specialist
Swan Hellenic, headed by Lord Sterling, a former chairman of P&O, as a
potential buyer.

Yesterday politicians raised concerns for businesses that rely on trade from
the “high-spending” travellers on board the Hebridean Princess.
Liberal Democrat Argyll MP Alan Reid said: “It brings in a lot of tourists
to spend their money so it would be a big loss to Oban and other the
locations that it serves.”
Mull councillor Gordon Chalmers said the ship was a familiar sight in
Tobermory. He added: “It does bring a high-spending customer to Tobermory,
and local craft shops benefit.”
The Hebridean Spirit, which cruises to destinations around the world, was
sold on Tuesday for a rumoured £4.8million, reportedly by a Middle Eastern
buyer.
The Hebridean Princess is the former ferry MV Columba, built in 1964 for
Caledonian MacBrayne. She was converted into a commercial cruising vessel in
1989. She is currently on a week-long voyage around the Inner Hebrides and
Skye. In 2006 the Royal Family used her to tour the west coast to celebrate
the Queen’s 80th birthday.

Source: The Press and Journal per Gary Andrews-Ferries of Northern Europe.

Note: Members of the West Highland Steamer Club made an organised visit to HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS on Saturday 28^th February 2004 to celebrate the 40^th Anniversary of the ship’s entry to service with David MacBrayne Ltd as the car ferry COLUMBA.

 

The former Caledonian MacBrayne vessel CLAYMORE sailed for Svendborg, Denmark at 20.00 on Thursday 9^th April.

Her new owners are CT offshore ApS, who are involved in under sea cable laying.

Source: Scotships-Various Contributors.

 

The position of Caledonian MacBrayne vessels, among the Western Isles, as at Tuesday 7^th April.

CLANSMAN. Commenced Oban-Coll-Tiree-Barra-South Uist roster from Sunday 29^th March having sailed from Lochmaddy, where she was stormbound, on Saturday 28^th.

CORUISK. Laid up in the King George V Dock over the winter period. Sailed to Mallaig on Saturday 21^st March for the Armadale roster commencing Friday 27^th.

EIGG. Resumed Lismore roster on Saturday 4^th March having been to Corpach for overhaul.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES. Single ship service From Kennacraig to Islay from Monday 30^th March following the grounding of ISLE OF ARRAN.

HEBRIDES. Resumed her own roster from Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert on Sunday 29^th March having sailed from Castlebay.

ISLE OF ARRAN. Sailed to Birkenhead on Monday 30^th. Arrived Tuesday 31^st. Entered dry-dock on Friday 3^rd April for repairs.

ISLE OF CUMBRAE. Tarbert-Portavadie  as from Friday 27^th March.

ISLE OF LEWIS. Ullapool-Stornoway.

ISLE OF MULL. Oban-Craignure as from Friday 27^th.

LOCH ALAINN. Ardmhor-Eriskay (Sound of Barra).

LOCH BHRUSDA. Was on the Berneray-Leverburgh (Sound of Harris) route while LOCH PORTAIN was away for overhaul. Handed over to LOCH PORTAIN on Tuesday 31^st March. Sailed to the Clyde where she arrived on Saturday 4^th for lay-up at Rosneath.

LOCH BUIE. Fionnphort-Iona.

LOCH DUNVEGAN. Colintraive-Rhubodach.

LOCH FYNE. Lochaline-Fishnish.

LOCH LINNHE.Tobermory-Kilchoan.

LOCH PORTAIN. Entered Garvel dry-dock on Sunday 15^th March. Completed trials on Thursday 26^th then set sail next day but had to turn back due to the weather. Berthed at Millport Old Pier. Made it back to Otternish on Monday 30^th March. Resumed roster on Tuesday 31^st.

LOCH RANZA. Tayinloan-Gigha.

LOCH RIDDON. Set sail from Oban on Friday 3^rd April bound for Largs and Fairlie.

LOCH STRIVEN. Raasay-Sconser.

LOCH TARBERT. Commenced Lochranza-Claonaig roster on Friday 27^th March having taken over from ISLE OF CUMBRAE.

LOCH NEVIS. Mallaig-Armadale-Small Isles routes.

LORD OF THE ISLES. Commenced Oban –Colonsay-Port Askaig emergency roster from Wednesday April 1^st.

MURNEAG. Ullapool-Stornoway overnight freight roster.

PENTALINA B. Chartered from Pentland Ferries for emergency Islay freight service. Twice-daily weekdays, as required at weekends.

RAASAY. Was on Oban-Lismore route. Resumed Oban standby vessel from Sunday 4^th April.

Source: Ian McCrorie per Clyde River Steamer Club.

 

 

07/04/09.

 

 

 

06/04/09.

 

Many passengers were stuck on a Calmac ferry which could not dock in a stiff wind this afternoon.
Strong gusts and a damaged pier mean the MV Isle of Lewis was unable to manoeuvre into her usual spot in Stornoway harbour.
The laden vessel was forced to move to a temporary berth where foot passengers were allowed to disembark.
But cars and lorries were stuck inside for about 90 minutes.
First, travellers heading for Ullapool boarded by Number 3 pier and the ferry shunted over to the port's freight link-span to allow vehicles to get off.
The cargo ferry Mùirneag was put out of her berth and she steamed outside the harbour until the MV Isle of Lewis was clear.
Normally, the ferry presses her weight against a huge rubber dolphin at the end of the pier to lever the ship neatly into the tight position.
But the ferry pier is currently being repaired and the blustery winds south easterly wind prevented safe berthing.
A spokesman for Stornoway Port Authority said: "The master of the Isle of Lewis following discussions with the deputy harbour master decided to opt to use the Number 1 pier linkspan which required shifting the freight ferry Muirneag.
"The Isle of Lewis berthed first on the East side of Number 3 Pier at 1.15 pm following which the vessel shifted to Number 1 Pier at 2.50 pm and unloaded.
"Stornoway Port Authority apologies for the inconvenience caused. On this occasion a specialist crane barge has been brought in to the port to expedite the repairs which are expected to be completed in the course of next week."
The MV Isle of Lewis was running 90 minutes late into Ullapool last night (Fri)

Source: The Hebrides Website per Margaret Morrison, Clydesite, Friday 3^rd April.

 

Once again the island of Colonsay became the victim of ferry problems after its relief vessel MV Isle of Arran ran aground in Oban Bay.

The island had lost out on two of its three ferry services during the week because of bad weather and last Saturday, the Arran, which is normally the second boat for Islay, offered to take passengers to Colonsay on its way back to Kennacraig from working the Outer Hebrides route last Friday.

Dr John Currie from Colonsay and his fiancée were on board the ferry as it left Oban.

‘After about 10-15 minutes, we had gone to get something to eat and on the way back to the table there was an almighty sway of the boat and a scraping and clanging,’ he said.

‘I went to the window and saw a lot of sand being swirled up and more than one member of the crew said they thought we’d hit a sand bank.

‘We seemed to be spinning around and then we headed back to the pier.’

A spokesman for CalMac said the Isle of Arran had been covering for the MV Clansman, which was covering the MV Hebrides, which was in dry dock.

On the way back to Islay via Colonsay, the 4.50pm sailing with 19 passengers on board hit the reef at the edge of Oban Bay.

‘There will be an investigation by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch and a CalMac investigation into whether it was a navigational error or human error,’ said the spokesman.

‘We don’t think the boat was badly damaged but it will have to go into dry dock as a matter of urgency,’ he added.

The summer timetable began at the weekend and the Isle of Arran is vital to provide the increased number of sailings for Islay and Colonsay.

‘The police were involved as a matter of course because there were people on board but there were no injuries so they are not involved in any further action,’ said the CalMac spokesman.

Passengers had to wait up to two hours to disembark, as divers checked the hull of the vessel for damage, and were reimbursed for overnight accommodation costs.

Although a ferry sailed on Sunday to Colonsay, islanders were left frustrated that bad weather was once again cited, as the reason the ferry did not sail on Monday and Friday last week to the island.

Dr Currie commented: ‘It begs the question that if they can get the Isle of Arran in a force 9-10 to the Hebrides, why can’t the Lord of the Isles get to Colonsay?’

Islander Ken Chadwick, whose son was trying to get to the island last week, said: ‘We get the worst end of the stick every time and we can understand that in bad weather safety prevails but it does seem to be any number of reasons why we don’t get a ferry down here.

‘Yes, the island provides fewer passengers than places such as Mull but the taxpayers pay a very considerable annual subsidy to CalMac to provide the transport infrastructure vitally necessary to keep the small islands alive.’

Ferry timetables to Colonsay and Islay will continue to be disrupted while the Isle of Arran is in dry dock.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 2^nd April.

 

 

04/04/09.

 

The Berneray-Leverburgh, Sound of Harris, service (LOCH PORTAIN) is facing disruptions and delays due to tidal conditions.

The following amended timetable will apply next week:

Tuesday 7^th April 10.30 sailing from Berneray and 11.35  from Leverburgh have been cancelled.  Wednesday 8^th and Thursday 9^th  10.30 & 13.30 sailings from Berneray and 11.35 & 14.45  from Leverburgh have been cancelled.

There will be additional sailings on Wednesday  and Thursday  departing from Berneray at 09.35 and from Leverburgh at 10.45.

Friday 10^th and Saturday 11^th  13.30 sailing from Berneray and 14.45  from Leverburgh have been cancelled.

For further information contact Lochmaddy Office on 01876 500337(option 2) or Tarbert Office on 01859 502444(option 2).

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk