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| December 2004 news The reintroduction of the Campbeltown to Ballycastle ferry looks unlikely to take place in 2005, as the lead-time for effective marketing has been lost. The Dalriada Business Action Group is now campaigning to get the service reinstated for 2006. DBAG Chairman Mr Les Oman is happier with a longer lead-time considering the amount of work involved in making the public aware of the service. People in both Scotland and Northern Ireland have to be made aware of the attractions on both sides of the water. The Scottish Executive has agreed to reinstate a sum of £700,000 for the ferry in its 2004/2005 autumn budget, which will be carried forward to 2005/2006. The Northern Ireland Office is to provide a further £300,000 but this appears to have been put on hold due to the assembly being suspended. Still in Campbeltown the Argyll and Bute Council are due to make a decision, in private, for funding an upgrade to the harbour. Improvements are vital as there has been an increase in timber exports from the area. Should the ferry service return then the harbour faces the prospect of congestion both for shipping and road transport. The retirement of Mr James Robertson, a long serving employee of CalMac, was marked by a dinner in Oban. CalMac colleagues past and present joined James at the Caledonian Hotel on December 4th where he received messages of goodwill from the communities of the west coast served by CalMac. Captain Norman Martin presented James with a bottle of Laphroiag and a cheque for £500. Under normal circumstances CalMac vessels are delayed by the weather or for technical reasons. On December 7th, however, LORD OF THE ISLES was delayed by 35 minutes after two individuals refused to leave the bar on board ship. After 20 minutes the police were called to resolve the situation. As LOTI was blocking the linkspan, CLANSMAN could not berth and she, too, sailed 25 minutes late. Plans for the Scottish Executive were thrown into disarray when the coalition was defeated in a debate over the tendering process in which shipping companies would be given the chance to compete for CalMac routes. The coalition was defeated by 54 votes to 53. Transport Minister Nicol Stephen said that he would abide with the result but would seek a meeting with the EU transport commissioner. Meantime it is business as usual for CalMac with the current investment programme going ahead as planned. Councillor Charlie King has expressed his concern for the Mallaig- Armadale service should the tendering process go ahead. The scrapping of tolls on the Skye Bridge has not helped his fears. Continuing on a political theme, CalMac have been considering transferring crews to an offshore company, then hiring them back, to avoid paying National Insurance contributions to the Treasury. Sadly the boatyard where the passenger ferry, SPIRIT OF SKYE, built for the new service between Gairloch and Portree, looks like closing down. The firm, Sandy Morrisons Engineering, has gone into liquidation losing twenty-two jobs. The Administrators admit that little interest has been shown in the yard in Uig. The debate over the possibility of a new service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale rumbles on as CalMac admit being asked by the Scottish Executive to look at the pros and cons of such a service. Argyll and Bute Council feel that greater priority should be given to better services to Coll, Tiree and Colonsay than starting a new service in the network. CalMac are of the opinion that a second linkspan at Oban is essential before providing a better service to the Inner Hebrides. The long awaited second linkspan will probably not see the light of day until next year. The joint meeting of the West Highland Steamer Club and the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society took place on 17th December with the WHSC hosting the event this year. An excellent turnout was a good sign and the Speaker, Iain Quinn, did not let us down. Following an introduction from President Duncan Wilson, Iain presented a show on the slides of the late John Nicholson, an artist who was inspired to paint ships amidst mountain scenery while on childhood holidays in Dunoon. John was also a great photographer and it was this aspect of his work on which Iain concentrated during his presentation. Slides included depictions of the liners QUEEN MARY and QUEEN ELIZABETH, the KING GEORGE V and the WAVERLEY and of Johns’ first love the steamers of the Isle of Man Steamship Company. It was especially pleasing to have Johns’ son, Duncan, who travelled from Newcastle, at the meeting. Also present was Mr. John Whittle, Honorary President of the WHSC. PSPS Chairman Stuart Cameron gave the vote of thanks. Joe McKendrick had an excellent selection of merchandise available for sale while Robin Love sold WHSC calendars and photos. The next meeting of the PSPS takes place on the 21st January with a Powerpoint Presentation by Stuart Mears on his twenty-five years as a voluntary crewmember and passenger of WAVERLEY and BALMORAL. The next meeting of the WHSC takes place on 28th January and features Captain Ron Bailey, Clyde Harbourmaster. From the Oban Times “Those Were The Days” column comes this snippet. Apparently there was a proposal to link Oban with the island of Kerrera, with a causeway, twenty-five years ago. This “ would be the biggest boost to the area since the coming of the railway”. Kerrera was very much opposed to the plan. Do any Members have knowledge of this scheme? Please let me know. Caledonian MacBraynes’ annual report for 2003-04 was published on 22nd December. It shows an extra 300,000 passengers using ferry services around Scotland last year. 5.2 million passengers and more than 1 million cars were carried overall. CalMac recorded a profit of £777,000, but only after receiving a grant of £25.9 million from the Scottish Executive. As reported earlier, tolls on the Skye Bridge were scrapped at 09.30 on Tuesday 21st and motorists were, at last, free to cross to Skye without paying. The downside means that 21 people will, sadly, lose their jobs. The Executive officially takes control of the bridge on 1st January 2005. Charlie King, Councillor for Mallaig, has, again, voiced his concern over the future of the Mallaig – Armadale ferry service fearing the scrapping of tolls would mean “the death knell” for local tourism. The CalMac winter overhaul programme could be thrown into confusion following a collision between the ISLE OF MULL and the LORD OF THE ISLES at Oban on the evening of 29th December. The IOM bounced off the pier and hit LOTI sustaining considerable damage to her stem and steelwork immediately after the bow visor. LOTI, berthed at the railway pier, received superficial damage but will be able to carry on sailing for the near future. IOM was despatched to Greenock for repairs to be replaced by CLANSMAN, which was sent north from Greenock. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everybody at the West Highland Steamer Club. Duncan Wilson 31st December 2004.
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk