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ISLE OF LEWIS was running late due to a problem with her bow visor on Monday 4th August. The 13.45 ex Stornoway departed at 14.35. The return from Ullapool departed almost an hour late at 18.00.
LORD OF THE ISLES faced technical problems on Friday 8th. Her evening trip to Colonsay was delayed by forty-five minutes.
The following Friday LOCH FYNE, on the Fishnish-Lochaline route, was called away to a distress call. She resumed normal service at 17.45.
On Friday 22nd ISLE OF MULL had a change of scenery after handing over her Craignure roster to CLANSMAN at 13.45. The latter ship took up the Mull run at 14.00. ISLE OF MULL departed from Oban at 14.30 bound for Castlebay on the delayed 13.40 sailing. This was to allow CLANSMAN to do a cattle sales trip to Tiree at 2000. Things did not go according to plan, however, as the sailings were fully booked. The mezzanine deck on board CLANSMAN was crashed into action meaning that she began to run late. The 19.00 ex Craignure did not leave until 19.50.
ISLE OF MULL passed Tobermory at 16.10 exchanging greetings with LOCH LINNHE on the Tobermory-Kilchoan run.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne, has appointed David Cannon as Public Affairs Manager, based at its Gourock headquarters.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) today (August 26, 2008) announced it is making 13 improvements to its timetables following consultations with local communities.
The ports and islands of the Western Isles hosted an excellent variety of cruise ships during August.
ALBATROS-Ullapool, Tobermory and Iona.
ASTOR-Stornoway.
AZAMARA JOURNEY-Oban.
BALMORAL-Portree.
DELPHIN VOYAGER-Oban and Stornoway.
ENDEAVOUR-Stornoway and Rum.
HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS-Gairloch, Muck, Coll, Oban, Barra and Eriskay.
ISLAND SKY-Inverewe, Canna, St Kilda and Iona.
KRISTINA REGINA-Stornoway.
LE DIAMANT-Portree.
MARCO POLO-Stornoway.
MONA LISA-Stornoway and Oban.
OCEON MAJESTY-Oban and Tobermory.
OCEON MONARCH-Oban.
M V CLAYMORE was built by Robb Caledon, Leith and was launched on 31st August 1978. She is the third ship to bear the name.
The West Highland Steamer Club visited the shipyard to view the new ship under construction
CLAYMORE was built to the same design as PIONEER (1974), which was built by the same shipyard, although she was much bigger. She entered service on the Outer Isles route from Oban and also served Coll and Tiree She sailed to Barra and Lochboisdale and the Inner Isles on alternate days. CLAYMORE was to remain on this route for ten years.
Following the introduction of LORD OF THE ISLES in 1989, CLAYMORE moved down to Kennacraig from where she served Islay. ISLE OF ARRAN displaced her on this route in 1993 after CALEDONIAN ISLES appeared on the Brodick run. CLAYMORE became spare vessel during the summer.
On Sunday 4th October Caledonian MacBrayne organised a cruise as part of the Club’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. CLAYMORE departed from Kennacraig at 13.25 bound for Gourock where she arrived at 20.30. The ship was dressed overall and the Club’s flag was flown at the mainmast.
She sailed via the Sound of Gigha, Mull of Kintyre, Kilbrannan Sound and Lochranza Bay.
Captain Norman Martin invited all the passengers on to the Bridge during the voyage. Visits to the engine room were also organised and much appreciated.
During the summer of 1993 CLAYMORE sailed for the Clyde. On Friday 27th August she made her maiden call at Wemyss Bay and entered service on the Rothesay run. On the same day she also called at Dunoon (another first). She assisted on the Gourock – Dunoon route on Cowal Games Saturday. In October and December she saw action on the Ardrossan – Brodick route after CALEDONIAN ISLES suffered from mechanical problems.
During the summer of 1994 CLAYMORE embarked on what was a most unusual employment-weekend voyages to Douglas, Isle of Man. For this service she was given an International Passenger Certificate for 300. On one occasion at Douglas she used her hoist, the first time this method of loading and unloading had ever been used on the Isle of Man. She carried on with this service in 1995.
In September 1995 CLAYMORE became the first CalMac vessel to visit Wales. On Monday 4th September she set sail from Ardrossan at 21.00 bound for Llandudno under charter to the Hamilton Oil Company. She arrived at 09.40 on Tuesday 5th. She returned to the Clyde and arrived at Gourock at 11.25 on Thursday 7th.
In 1996 CLAYMORE had the most interesting year of any ship in the CalMac fleet and probably became its most travelled member. During the year, which turned out to be her last full year with Caledonian MacBrayne, she visited more ports than any other of her consorts had ever done before. Apart for the James Watt Dock, Greenock, she called at Gourock, Dunoon, Wemyss Bay, Rothesay, Largs, Ardrossan, Brodick, Tarbert (Loch Fyne), Ardrishaig, Kennacraig, Port Ellen, Port Askaig, Colonsay, Oban, Craignure, Mallaig, Armadale, Castlebay, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Tarbert (Harris), Heysham, Douglas and Dun Laoghaire-twenty-four terminals in total.
Her last passenger sailing for Caledonian MacBrayne was on Tuesday 22nd April 1997 when she sailed from Kennacraig to Port Ellen at 18.00. On Thursday 1st May CLAYMORE was sold to Argyll and Antrim Steam Packet Company, a subsidiary of Sea Containers Scotland Ltd. Under the terms of the sale CLAYMORE was to be returned to CalMac under charter so that the winter overhaul programme could be carried out.
On Monday 30TH June CLAYMORE departed from Campbeltown on her inaugural sailing to Ballycastle, Northern Ireland. She was to remain on this service during the summer for three years. In February 2000 Sea Containers announced that the Campbeltown – Ballycastle service would not be operating again. CLAYMORE was moved to Birkenhead where she was place on the sale list but would be available for charter. In June she sailed to the Faroe Isles where she remained for five weeks. On completion of her charter she returned to her lay-up berth at Birkenhead.
CLAYMORE remained languishing at Birkenhead for two years until Mr Andrew Banks, owner and operator of Pentland Ferries, announced that he had bought a second ship, which turned out to be CLAYMORE. His first ship was the former CalMac vessel, IONA, since re-named PENTALINA B.
CLAYMORE left Birkenhead on Sunday 6th October 2002 but did not arrive at her new home at St Margaret’s Hope, Orkney, until Sunday 13th. She was expected to enter service between St Margaret’s Hope and Gills Bay, Caithness. Unfortunately traffic did not pick up as expected and CLAYMORE has only seen intermittent service on this route. On occasions her passengers numbers have been limited to twelve.
During the summer of 2006 she was employed on short-term charter as a livestock carrier between Dover and Calais.
This is a sad end to what was a productive and useful member of the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet.
CLAYMORE is featured on the August page of the 2008 Club Calendar. She is pictured approaching Armadale on 21st July 1990. Photograph: Lawrence Macduff.
Source: Ian McCrorie-Royal Road to the Isles/Clyde River Steamer Club Reviews 1992-2002
West Highland Steamer Club Newsletter No 46.
M V HEBRIDES, the third vessel to bear the name, was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd, Port Glasgow and launched on Thursday 2nd August 2000.She was named by H M the Queen, the first time a reigning monarch had christened a vessel of the company or any of its predecessors.
Following fitting out she was ready for VIP cruises and “showing the flag” by March 2001. During one of these she was given the bell of the first HEBRIDES of 189, which had also graced the second HEBRIDES, MacBrayne’s first car ferry dating from 1964.The design of the new ship was based on that of CLANSMAN, with various improvements suggested after three years of service. The main distinguishing feature is that she does not carry lifeboats, as her evacuation system is more sophisticated. Like her quasi-sister open deck space was improved during her overhaul in 2004.
HEBRIDES gave her first commercial sailing on 24th March 2001. Capacity was instantly increased by 50%. HEBRIDEAN ISLES, on the Uig triangle since 1986, was transferred to Islay displacing ISLE OF ARRAN, which became spare vessel. As HEBRIDES was a much faster vessel the timetable from Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert was recast with three double runs being possible over a twelve-hour period. HEBRIDES called at Ullapool while alterations and repairs were carried out at Uig. While the Lochmaddy linkspan was under repair she called at Lochboisdale.
As she was late in finishing her overhaul in April 2007 HEBRIDES took over CLANSMAN’s Oban roster on Monday April 2nd. She remained at Oban for a week, the two ships changing places on Saturday 8th.
HEBRIDES is depicted departing from Coll on 6th April 2007 on the September page of the 2008 Club calendar.
Photograph: Iain McPherson.
Source: Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
DART PRINCESS was bought from Paignton, Devon in August 1988 to replace IONA at Eigg. She was repainted red while on her way north at Oban. She was found to be mechanically unreliable and, within three months, was laid up at Shandon.Thereafter, with ULVA (1956) as the regular Eigg tender, she was only used in a spare capacity relieving in the autumn at Eigg and Rum. She was sold in September 1996.
DART PRINCESS is pictured at Eigg on 18th August 1990 on the April Page of the 2008 Club calendar.
Photograph: Lawrence Macduff.
Source: West Highland Steamer Club Calendar 2008.
A full-scale review of the country’s ferry services will go ahead after ministers said they would take a fresh look at the whole network.
The Scottish Executive confirmed details of a review intended to consider enhancements to ferry services across all Scottish routes. The review will examine current provision of ferry services and what improvements should be made to meet future needs.
It meets the government’s commitment set out in the 2006 National Transport Strategy to “develop long term strategy for lifeline services to 2025”.
The national strategy committed the government to carry out “a detailed appraisal of routes to determine whether a better configuration could be developed in response to calls for new and faster connections serving those isolated communities and a review of fares structures”.
A report published by Hollywood’s transport committee in June identified a series of short-term improvements to ferry services, which should be brought forward immediately.
These include adjusting timetables to improve the needs of ferry users; greater co-ordination between ferry, train and bus operators: promoting more effective consultation of ferry users by operators; improving accessibility of ferries and landing areas for disabled people; and improving ferry operators standards of customer service.
The review will run until autumn 2009. All aspects of the ferry network will be covered, including the scope for “rationalisation” of fares, and alternatives to ferries such as bridges and causeways.
It will also consider opening routes up to competition from commercial providers, and how lifeline ferry services are procured.
The review comes before the Scottish Executive’ pilot scheme for cheaper ferry fares begins. The Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme, due to begin in October, will run on routes to and from the Outer Hebrides and from the islands of Coll and Tiree. This could mean fares being cut by as much as 50% as they will be based on the costs of travelling a similar distance by road.
Source: The Herald, Saturday August 30th.
Caledonian MacBrayne has announced thirteen changes to the winter timetable following consultation with island communities.
These include better integration with bus and train services, more sailings to and from Islay sailings to and from Lismore to allow Oban High School pupils to get home every day, a new Sunday morning sailing to Tiree and Coll and carrying bicycles free of charge.
Timetables have also been changed on the following routes:
Barra-Eriskay, Berneray-Leverburgh, Lochmaddy-Uig, Sconser-Raasay, Mallaig-Armadale and Ullapool-Stornoway.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 28th August.
Islanders and ferry users across the West Highlands are being called on to sign a petition supporting cheaper ferry fares.
It follows concerns that certain islands would gain unfairly from the pilot Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) scheme starting in October and running for three years.
Islanders, councillors and MSPs have formed a group to lobby Scottish ministers to reduce ferry fares across the board and start a promised review of ferry fares now rather than at the end of the pilot.
The e-petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge ministers to start the review to develop the service long term, to 2025, and provide an “immediate minimum discount of 40% on ferry fares”.
The petition closes on September 26th and needs thousands of names before the petitions committee will consider looking at the issue.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 21st August.
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