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| December 2009 news 30/12/09.
ISLE OF MULL failed to berth at Colonsay today and made her way back to Oban where she arrived at 14.00. CLANSMAN will operate an additional sailing from Oban to Colonsay tomorrow at 15.00 returning from Colonsay at approximately 17.30.
Due to adverse weather conditions, today's 15.40 sailing from Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale was delayed and will now depart Oban at midnight. Weather permitting, the following timetable will apply; Depart Oban 00.00, Arrive Castlebay 05.30, Depart Castlebay 05.40, Arrive Lochboisdale 07.00, Depart Lochboisdale 07.30, Arrive Castlebay 09.10 (as timetabled), Depart Castlebay 09.20, Arrive Oban 14.30(as timetabled).
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
29/12/09.
Due to an adverse weather forecast Caledonian MacBrayne are advising their customers that there is a possiblilty of the vessel not being able to land at Lochboisdale tomorrow.
The 14.40 sailing from Colonsay to Oban will sail via Craignure tomorrow and arrive in Oban at 17.46. This service may also be disrupted due to weather conditions.
A sailing for foot passengers only bound for Craignure will depart from Oban at 15.40.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
28/12/09.
Sailings on the Ullapool - Stornoway route are cancelled today for technical reasons.
Due to operational requirements the 18.00 sailing from Kennacraig to Port Askaig will divert to Port Ellen. This means that the 07.00 Islay to Kennacraig tomorrow will now depart from Port Ellen not Port Askaig as timetabled.
The Oban - Craignure service on Wednesday 30th will face disruptions for operational reasons. The 16.00 ex Oban to Craignure will depart Oban two hours late at 18.00. The 17.00 ex Craignure to Oban will be on time.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
21/12/09.
The overnight freight service is cancelled again tonight. The vessel was due to leave Stornoway at 23.30 and return from Ullapool at 05.00 on Tuesday morning.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
20/12/09.
All sailings between Stornoway and Ullapool have been cancelled due to adverse weather and a heavy sea swell. Next sailing, weather permitting, will depart Stornoway at 7.00 tomorrow and return from Ullapool at 10.25 .
Tonight’s freight service, which leaves Stornoway at 00.30 and returns from Ullapool at 05.00 has also been cancelled. Next sailing, weather permitting, will depart Stornoway at 23.30 tomorrow.
Caledonian MacBrayne are advising their customers that the Oban - Lochboisdale/Castlebay sailing today may be disrupted due to the weather.There is a possibility of the ferry not reaching Lochboisdale tonight.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
The annual joint meeting with the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society was held on Friday 18th December. This year it was the turn of the PSPS to host the evening.
The speaker was Iain Quinn who took us on a journey round Britain on board BALMORAL, 2009 being the vessel’s Diamond Jubilee year.
The next meeting is on Friday 29th January 2010 when the speakers will be Lawrence Macduff and Ian McCrorie. Their presentation is entitled “The Islay Route”.
All meetings are held in the Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow round the corner from Charing Cross Station commencing at 19.30.
Members of other shipping organisations are welcome to attend the meetings.
Duncan Wilson.
15/12/09.
Caledonian MacBrayne has announced that its Summer Timetable, which comes into effect on Sunday, March 26, 2010, is now open for telephone and on-line bookings.
Commercial Manager Alasdair Henderson said:” We enjoyed a busy year on all of our routes last summer, with many sailings fully booked. We would therefore encourage anyone planning to travel with us during Summer 2010, to book as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.” Copies of CalMac’s Summer timetables for 2010, and the 2010 brochure Explore, which covers ferry services to the 24 destinations off Scotland’s west coast that are served by the CalMac network, are also now available from ports, offices and on ships. Making a reservation or getting service information has also never been easier with two free-phone numbers – 0800 066 5000 for Reservations and 0800 066 5400 for Service Information. Source: Gary Andrews, Ferries of Northern Europe.
12/12/09.
The former Rum flitboat RHOUMA (named after the former owner of the island's Clyde built steam yacht, the bell of which is still in Kinloch Castle) has been sold.
After a period of neglect following the commissioning of the slipway, her owners, Scottish Natural Heritage sold her to an un-named buyer, as is where is, for a reported £3,500.There was interest from the neighbouring island of Eigg, but she was not sold there. The new owner will have to arrange the collection of the vessel.
Built in 1971 of wooden construction, RHOUMA is an “Orkney-type” open workboat, and has not seen service for nearly three years. She is offered for disposal in an “as seen condition”. She is fitted with a relatively new Perkins Sabre engine with approximately 500 hours working time on it, and a marine band radio and compass. Source: Scotships, The Oban Times Thursday 18th June 2009.
09/12/09.
Due to technical problems the 07.00 sailing from Islay ( Port Ellen) tomorrow will now operate at the earlier time of 04.15. Thereafter sailings will hopefully operate as per the scheduled timetable. If the current technical problem is not resolved by tomorrow morning then the 09.45 sailing from Kennacraig may be subject to disruption or cancellation. Any traffic booked on this sailing will be transferred to the 13.00.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
08/12/09.
Strong winds continued to sweep over the Western Isles today forcing the cancellation of some services and disrupting others.
The 10.25 sailing from Ullapool and 13.50 return from Stornoway were cancelled. Weather permitting the next sailing should be at 17.35 from Ullapool.
The 13.30 sailing from Berneray and the 14.40 return from Leverburgh were cancelled. The next sailing will depart from Berneray at 08.15 tomorrow weather permitting. There will be an extra sailing departing from Berneray at 10.40 and from Leverburgh at 11.50.
The 18.00 sailing from Fionnphort to Iona was cancelled.
The 18.00 from Kennacraig was diverted to Port Askaig. This means that the 07.00 tomorrow will now be from Port Askaig and not Port Ellen as timetabled.
Caledonian MacBrayne are advising their customers that the Small Isles service from Mallaig to Eigg and Muck tomorrow is liable to disruption due to an adverse weather forecast, with the possibilty of being unable to call at Muck.
The 08.40 sailing from Mallaig and the 09.25 return from Armadale are liable to disruption and possible cancellation due to the weather. Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
06/12/09.
Strong winds have disrupted or cancelled several services around the Western Isles today.
The 14.30 departure from Stornoway and the 18.15 return from Ullapool were cancelled today.
The next scheduled sailing will be tomorrow from Stornoway at 7.00 returning from Ullapool at 10.25.
Tonight’s freight service between Stornoway and Ullapool is also cancelled . This may lead to delays tomorrow due to the additional traffic, which should have crossed the Minch overnight.
All sailings between Berneray and Leverburgh were cancelled today. Weather permitting the service will run as per timetable tomorrow.
The Outer Isles service from Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale was cancelled. The next sailing will depart from Oban tomorrow at 06.00. The following amended timetable will operate: Arr Coll 08.40, Dep Coll 08.50, Arr Tiree 09.45, Dep Tiree 10.00, Arr Barra 12.45, Dep Barra 13.00, Arr South Uist 14.30, Dep South Uist 14.45, Arr Oban 20.00.
The Coll and Tiree vessel sailed as usual today but failed to berth at either island and so she headed back to Oban where she arrived at 13.45. A combined Coll, Tiree, Barra and South Uist service will operate tomorrow as reported above.
The 08.45 and 16.30 sailings from Barra and the 09.30 and 17.30 return sailings from Eriskay were cancelled.
Tomorrow’s 14.40 sailing from Colonsay to Oban will sail via Craignure and arrive in Oban at 17.45.
The 16.00 sailing from Oban to Craignure tomorrow will be replaced by a later run at 18.00. The 17.00 from Craignure to Oban will be on time.
All sailings between Fionnphort and Iona were cancelled today.
Tonight’s18.00 sailing from Kennacraig diverted to Port Askaig instead of sailing to Port Ellen. This will mean that the 07.00 from Islay tomorrow will now leave from Port Askaig and not Port Ellen as timetabled.
Caledonian MacBrayne warned that the Sconser to Raasay service may be disrupted due to the weather.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
A public vote has overwhelmingly declared FINLAGGAN as the favourite name for Islay’s new ferry.
The ferry, which will join the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet in spring 2011, will be the first new ship to serve the route for thirty-seven years. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), the company which owns the CalMac fleet, invited the public to vote for one of four short listed names: FINLAGGAN, PIONEER, LOCHEIL and GLENDALE.
However, many Ileachs were disappointed that Isle of Islay was not considered as a name and Islay-based councillor Robin Currie launched a petition, championing the name Isle of Islay. It was supported by around 400 signatures. The name FINLAGGAN recorded nearly 600 votes, more than 70% of all votes cast in the four-week poll. Two of the people who voted for FINLAGGAN will be chosen at random by CMAL to be special guests at the launch of the vessel in Poland next summer. CMAL chairman Grenville Johnston declared: ‘This is a first class name for a first class ferry, as chosen by the people of Scotland. ‘We look forward to the launch of the new ship in Poland next year, then welcoming FINLAGGAN to Islay in 2011, a worthy addition to the fleet.’ Councillor Currie said: ‘I am happy with the name FINLAGGAN, as the name has Islay connections. What I wasn’t happy with was the way CMAL dictated the four names, instead of allowing people to choose their own. We now look forward to spring 2011 when it becomes part of the island’s ferry service.’ Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 3rd December.
03/12/09.
The return sailing from Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale was delayed by fifty minutes today due to technical reasons.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
02/12/09.
The freight service between Stornoway and Ullapool has been cancelled tonight for technical reasons. The service normally leaves Stornoway at 23.30 and from Ullapool at 05.00.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
Paddle steamer WAVERLEY will begin her 2010 Western Isles season on Friday 28th May. She will return to the Clyde on Tuesday 1st June.
Thanks to Iain Quinn for the information.
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk