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December 2006 news
Caledonian MacBrayne issued the above Press Release after a combination of high tides and severe weather conditions disrupted ferry services throughout the network over a period of several days.
The stormy weather rendered the slipway at Tayinloan unserviceable after several tons of seaweed and sand was dumped on the structure.
LOCH RANZA operated a limited service between Gigha and Kennacraig, but with only twelve passengers carried on an essential bookings only system. Cars were being carried, but loading at Kennacraig was only possible under certain tidal conditions.
She was joined initially by ISLE OF CUMBRAE, which was going to relieve LOCH ALAINN, which was going into dry-dock for overhaul.
LOCH STRIVEN relieved ISLE OF CUMBRAE on her way from Sconser to the Clyde for overhaul. The Loch Class vessels ran a two-ship service with the Ranza based at Gigha and the Striven based at Kennacraig.
The Herald carried a report today (05/12) about a group of passengers who were stranded in Oban after CLANSMAN failed to sail to Castlebay, Barra and Lochboisdale, South Uist for two consequent days. They had fresh food with them, which was going to waste. Meanwhile a consignment of live shellfish, worth an estimated £200,000, lay rotting on Castlebay Pier.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac/The Herald.
05/12/06.
A technical problem with LOCH NEVIS on Wednesday 6th meant that the 0840 ex Mallaig and the return from Armadale at 0925 were cancelled. The next day the same two runs were cancelled again. A passenger only service operated to Rum and Canna.
On Friday 8th LOCH LINNHE arrived at Kennacraig to assist LOCH RANZA on the Gigha service. Work commenced on the slipway at Tayinloan, which was rendered unserviceable after rubbish and vegetation was dumped in the vicinity by the stormy weather. On Saturday 9th LOCH LINNHE tried to use the slipway without success obviously because the two ship service was still operating from Kennacraig today (10/12).
The Sconser – Raasay service was suspended today due to the weather. This evening’s 1800 service from Kennacraig to Port Ellen was diverted to Port Askaig, which means that the 0415 return will start at Port Askaig not Port Ellen.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne.
LOCHRANZA arrived in from Gigha at 0945 0n Saturday morning with two cars on board. Because of a low tide she was unable to unload the cars so she carried them back to the island.
LOCH LINNHE arrived at Kennacraig from Gigha at 1138 carrying two cars (probably the same two) and a milk float, which were unloaded without any problem.
She then moved out, turned around and re-berthed port side in at the linkspan berth. She departed at 1322 for a berthing trial at Tayinloan, passing LOCH RANZA inward bound to Kennacraig.
HEBRIDEAN ISLES berthed stern in at Kennacraig at 1225 and left again at 1305. She is sporting a Christmas tree on top of the wheelhouse.
Many thanks to Iain McPherson for the information.
The front page of this week’s Oban Times (Thursday 7th) features a photograph of Port Askaig Pier under water during the recent run of bad weather.
Barra Councillor Donald Manford has hit out at Caledonian MacBrayne stating that there was a window of opportunity on Sunday during which time CalMac could have sailed out to Castlebay and Lochboisdale and sailed back during another break in the weather.
He said it seemed to be a policy of CalMac’s since last winter not to sail to the islands unless a return journey could be made, which means having at least a twelve hour window of good weather to get to Barra and South Uist and back.
Source: The Oban Times.
10/12/06.
Problems abounding for Caledonian MacBrayne from Sunday 10th until Tuesday 12th as stormy seas and high winds caused disruptions again on nearly every route in the ferry network. By Wednesday the weather had started to calm down and normal services were resumed.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac
Caledonian MacBrayne’s Island Class ferry EIGG was launched thirty-four years ago on Thursday December 12 1974.
She was built by James Lamont & Company, Port Glasgow, Yard No 423.
EIGG entered service on an emergency sailing between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin on 25th February 1975. A month later she opened the bow-loading service between Portree and Raasay.
EIGG is still in active service, usually associated with the Oban – Lismore run.
Source: Clydesite/Ian McCrorie - CalMac Ferries.
Many Scottish ship enthusiasts will be pleased to hear of the well-deserved promotion this week, of one of the Royal Navy Officers, to the rank of Commodore.
The gentleman is Commodore A A Ross.
He, and his family, have been close friends of mine for nearly forty years. Indeed I was honoured to be asked to play the organ at his wedding, about twenty-seven years ago. He has had a keen interest in Scottish shipping since he was a young boy. His first ship love was the last HEBRIDES.
Commodore Ross (Angus to his friends) is a member of several enthusiasts Clubs – Clyde River Steamer Club, West Highland Steamer Club and the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. His late father, William Ross, was the third President of the West Highland Steamer Club, from 1972 to 1974. (He was my predecessor in that role).
I am delighted to be able to tell Scotships Subscribers about this promotion, and I am sure many enthusiasts will share the joy.
Walter Bowie.
Two companies have been invited to tender for enhanced services on the twenty-four ferry routes operated by CalMac Ferries Ltd.
The improved service will include a new £20million ferry for the Islay service and the extension of the two-ship service, which currently operates during the peak summer season, an additional Friday evening return between Oban and Craignure and an additional winter Sunday sailing from Oban to Tiree and Coll.
The bidders are also being invited to consider options for a direct Mallaig – Lochboisdale service to replace the Oban – Lochboisdale service, leaving Castlebay served from Oban.
The two companies concerned are CalMac Ferries Ltd and V Ships, the world’s largest ship management company. Western Ferries have already withdrawn from the tendering process.
V Ships withdrew from the Gourock – Dunoon tendering process, which attracted no tenders, having lost out to Caledonian MacBrayne on the Orkney and Shetland routes.
CalMac Ferries Ltd has welcomed the confirmation of the invitation to tender for the new contract to operate the services.
V Ships have been expecting the invitation to tender for a considerable time and will be considering it in detail. They will respond to The Scottish Executive within the given timeframe.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/The Herald.
The West Highland Steamer Club and Paddle Steamer Preservation Society joint meeting was held on Friday 15th. This year it was the turn of the WHSC to host the meeting and chose the subject matter.
WHSC Vice President, Ian Somerville, chaired the meeting in the absence of the Club President, Arthur McDonald.
The Speaker was Iain Quinn and his chosen subject was “Glasgow to the Isles by MacBrayne Cargo Steamers”.
Iain described a journey on the cargo ship LOCH CARRON with his friends Donald Robertson, George Stromier and Leo Vogt, between Glasgow and Stornoway. He opened his talk by reading from the notes made by Donald, his friend and mentor, which detailed the time travelling on board ship and the time allowed ashore.
Those in attendance were then treated to a selection of slides depicting almost every David MacBrayne cargo vessel in various locations including the Kingston Dock in Glasgow, now filled in and the East India Harbour, Greenock.
Before the advent of the car ferries, MacBrayne cargo ships traded to many of the islands. Iain continued his presentation by showing slides of these ships at Tiree, Oban, Tobermory and Stornoway.
Vessels shown in the slides included LOCH CARRON, LOCH BROOM, LOCH DUNVEGAN, LOCH ARD and LOCH FRISA.
The last cargo ship operated by MacBraynes, LOCH CARRON, carried out her final run for the company in November 1976.
PSPS Scottish Branch President, Gavin Johnston, gave the vote of thanks.
The annual PSPS Festive Cruise takes place on December 27th, departing from Victoria Harbour, Greenock at 1100 and arriving back at 1530.
Fare including lunch is £25.95 (£18.95 for children). Fare for cruise only is £16.95 (£10.95 for children).
The advance timetable 2007 for WAVERLEY has been published. She will make her maiden call at Inverie, where a new pier has been built, on Tuesday May 8th.
The next PSPS meeting is on January Friday 19th when the speaker will be Captain John Megoran, Master of the KINGSWEAR CASTLE. His subject is entitled “My Favourite Paddle Steamers”.
The next WHSC meeting is on January Friday 26th when the speaker will be Alistair Deayton. His subject is entitled “Amongst the Centenarians-Steamer spotting in Scanadanavia”.
Duncan Wilson.
LOCH STRIVEN was unslipped from Ardmaleish, where she was being overhauled, on Saturday 16th.
Many thanks to Iain McPherson for the information.
Islanders on Barra were given the chance to discuss and consider the future of vital ferry services, which they rely upon for trade and transportation to the mainland, at a meeting on Tuesday 19th.
Dr Alf Baird, Professor of Transportation at Napier University, Edinburgh, addressed the meeting, which consisted a seminar and workshop.
Mull Community Council has not received a reply from Tavish Scott MSP regarding space being made available for ambulances on the ferry whether fully booked or not.
Local MSP George Lyon is willing to meet the Community Council but said that Tavish Scott is unlikely to attend.
Coll and Tiree could be cut off from vital services as a result of a change in the 1992 Caledonian MacBrayne timetable (The Oban Times Those Were The Days Column).
Islanders complained to CalMac after the summer timetable revealed that no cars would board LORD OF THE ISLES at Tobermory when the new linkspan operation starts.
Companies on Mull will have to travel to Oban to board the ferry, which calls at Tobermory, before sailing on to Coll and Tiree.
Source: The Oban Times.
Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that ferry operations from Port Askaig will temporarily close down with immediate effect and that all services to and from Islay will operate from Port Ellen.
The closure brings forward a planned interruption in the service from Port Askaig, which had been scheduled for mid February. To enable essential engineering works involving replacement of the linkspan and other facilities the ferry will operate out of Port Ellen from Thursday 20th.
In order for customers to maintain mainland bus connections, the 1300 departure from Kennacraig has been brought forward by ten minutes to 1250 with immediate effect.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne www.calmac.co.uk
The David MacBrayne cargo vessel, LOCH BROOM, was launched from the Bowling yard of Messrs Scott & Sons on Thursday 20th December 1945 as EMPIRE MAYSONG. Her Yard Number was 376.
She was intended as a coastal patrol vessel for the Far East but, with the cessation of hostilities, was not required.
She was taken to Ardrossan, stripped of her superstructure, and fitted out as a cargo and cattle carrier for the West Highland trade.
LOCH BROOM entered service for David MacBrayne in December 1948. Her first trip was to Islay and Portree.
She was sold in 1972 to Focomar Shipping, Greece, and renamed FOCOMAR. She ran aground and sank in Greek waters on September 19th 1974.
Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir - West Highland Steamers.
The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry ISLE OF CUMBRAE was launched from the Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon on Thursday 23rd December 1976. Her Yard Number was 551.
She entered service on the Largs – Cumbrae Slip route replacing the former Skye ferries, CORUISKand LARGS, which were kept as relief ferries for a few years more.
After a period on the Fishnish – Lochaline crossing, ISLE OF CUMBRAE returned to the Clyde and took up service on the Colintraive – Rhubodach route.
After the recommissioning of the larger LOCH DUNVEGAN on the Kyles run in March 1999, ISLE OF CUMBRAE became the dedicated summer vessel on the Tarbert – Portavadie route while carrying out relief duties in the winter.
She is still in active service, a faithful servant of Caledonian MacBrayne.
Source: Clydesite/Ian McCrorie - CalMac Ferries.
The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry HEBRIDES (2001) is featured in the January edition of Ships Monthly. Included in the feature is an interview with the ship’s Master, Captain Donald Gunn.
Captain Gunn recently retired after a forty-five year career that started with David MacBrayne serving on the Outer Isles Mail Service in 1961. He then went deep sea for over twenty years much of it with Bank Line and Ben Line, two companies under Denholm management.
He ended his career after serving as Master of HEBRIDES for six years.
Source: Ships Monthly.
Note: HEBRIDES is pictured on the front cover of the Club Calendar 2007 arriving at Uig. Lawrence MacDuff took the photograph, from the high road overlooking the bay.
Due to stormy weather conditions many services faced disruptions once again from Thursday 28th until Sunday 31st.
There will be no ferry services on the 1st January and only a restricted service on Tuesday 2nd.
The slipway at Tayinloan has been cleared of debris and the Gigha service is back to normal. LOCH LINNHE is rostered on the route as LOCH RANZA is at Ardmaleish for overhaul.
Source: Ships of CalMac www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
Due to the high winds CORUISK was unable to use the gangway at Rothesay when she made her last arrival of the year at Bute. It was deemed to be too dangerous to allow passengers to walk of the linkspan on foot. They were therefore taken of the ship in the cars that were on board.
BUTE was the last vessel to complete a service in 2006.
Many thanks to Ian McPherson for the information.
Sunday 31st December 2006.
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk