news

It is not often that the West Highland Steamer Club holds meetings on Friday February 29^th, however the February meeting was held, this year, on Friday 29^th.

Since the inception of the business West Coast Motors has remained privately owned by the Craig family and from modest beginnings in the early 1920s the fleet has grown to an impressive total of 135 buses and coaches, five vans used for Post Office contracts and approximately 286 employees.

Donald joined the bus industry when he was twenty with Strathclyde Buses Possil Depot, which he described as a baptism of fire. He moved to Midland Bluebird at Balfron before moving to West Coast Motors for whom he has worked ever since.

As the title of his presentation was “ West Coast Connections” Donald showed slides, not only of buses, but also buses and ferries together where the two forms of transport connected. The membership, therefore, were treated to slides of Kennacraig, Tarbert, Dunoon, Brodick and Oban amongst other locations from the past and the present.

Iain Quinn gave the vote of thanks. This gave Iain the chance to tell of how West Coast Motors came to the rescue of hundreds of passengers on board WAVERLEY after fishing nets became entangle in her paddles.

There is a change to the next meeting. The speaker will not be Mr John Kerr, of Caledonian MacBrayne, as stated in the Syllabus. Mr George Taylor, his replacement will give a presentation on the development of the modern car ferry with particular reference to the new Islay ferry.

The next meeting is on March 28^th. All meetings are held in The Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow commencing at 19.30.

The Coastal Cruising Association is holding a meeting entitled West Coast Piers at the Partick Burgh Hall, Burgh Hall Street, Glasgow on Monday 3^rd March. All Club members are invited to the meeting.

Following the launch of the new Mull ferry, ISLE OF MULL, it was revealed that she was 114 tonnes overweight.

The Appledore Ferguson shipyard at Port Glasgow, owned by British Shipbuilders, were told that this was totally unacceptable.

The ship needed to lose at least 40 tonnes, by replacing steel fixtures with plastic and aluminium, or else Caledonian MacBrayne would not accept her. However what was more likely is that she would appear on the Mull route, but with a reduced passenger capacity.

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has welcomed the confirmation by Minister for Transport Stewart Stevenson MSP today (Tuesday, February 26) that a Road Equivalent Tariff (RET) pilot scheme will be introduced in the Outer Hebrides.

Many ferry services were disrupted by the strong winds, which swept across the Western Isles today(25/02). The atrocious weather conditions are expected to continue tomorrow causing further cancellations and disruptions.

The Oban - Colonsay and return sailings(ISLE OF MULL) were cancelled today . The next sailing will be on Wednesday 27^th as per timetable at 12.00.

There was no call at Muck today(LOCHNEVIS).The boat sailed as follows: dep Mallaig 10.20, arr Eigg 11.40, dep Eigg 12.00, arr Rum approx 13.20, dep Rum approx 13.30, arr Mallaig approx 15.00.

The Ullapool - Stornoway sailng at 1715 today was cancelled(ISLE OF LEWIS) .This means that the Stornoway - Ullapool sailing at 07.15 tomorrow has also been cancelled.

The 17.20 hours sailing from Kennacraig this evening was cancelled and, therefore, the 07.00hrs from Islay tomorrow morning has also been cancelled(HEBRIDEAN ISLES/ISLE OF ARRAN).

The Oban - Coll -Tiree sailing at 06.45 tomorrow is cancelled(LORD OF THE ISLES) .The next sailing will be advised at midday .

An amended timetable will operate on the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy roster tomorrow(CLANSMAN). Dep Tarbert - Lochmaddy 07.30. Dep Lochmaddy - Uig 09.40. Dep Uig - Lochmaddy 11.40. Dep Lochmaddy -Tarbert 13.50. Dep Tarbert - Uig 15.50. Dep Uig -Tarbert 18.00. Dep Tarbert - Lochmaddy 07.30. Dep Lochmaddy - Uig 09.40. Dep Uig - Lochmaddy 11.40. Dep Lochmaddy - Tarbert 13.50. Dep Tarbert - Uig 15.50. Dep Uig -Tarbert 18.00. All times are subject to change and are dependant on the weather.. Please check with the local offices for further information.

The cruise ship HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS will be calling at the following ports of the Western Isles during the month of March.

Oban-1^st, 5^th, 10^th, 14^th, 20^th and 27^th. Shieldaig-2^nd, 11^th and 21^st. Portree-3^rd, 12^th and 24^th am. Plockton-3^rd, 12^th and 29^th. Loch Scavaig-4^th and 13^th. Craobh Haven-6^th and 15^th. Jura-7^th and 16^th. Colonsay-8^th. Fort William-9^th. Iona-18^th. Kilchoan-19^th. Gairloch-22^nd and 30^th. Ullapool-23^rd. Kyle of Lochalsh-24^th pm and 31^st. Inverie-25^th. Coll-26^th. Rum-28^th.

Extensive disruptions and cancellations to the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry network on Friday 22^nd and Saturday 23^rd. The disruptions may run into Sunday 24^th.

The Oban - Lochboisdale/Castlebay - Oban was cancelled today due to the adverse weather. An additional sailing from Castlebay to Oban departed from Castlebay at approximately 17.30 (HEBRIDES).The next sailing from Oban will be tomorrow at 15.00 as per schedule .

CLANSMAN is relieving HEBRIDES on the Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy roster. She left Birkenhead at 09.30 on Thursday 21^st and made her way straight to Uig. HEBRIDES called in at Castlebay on her way south to the Clyde to provide the extra sailing to Oban. After discharging her passengers and cars, she headed down to the Clyde for her overhaul, which is due to start early next week. The Ullapool - Stornoway service (ISLE OF LEWIS) faced delays today due to the adverse weather.

The 17.20hrs from Kennacraig on Monday nights and the 07.00hrs on Tuesday mornings from Islay will operate to and from Port Ellen not Port Askaig until further notice due to the ongoing pier work at Port Askaig (HEBRIDEAN ISLES/ISLE OF ARRAN).

ISLE OF CUMBRAE carried out trials on Tuesday 19^th . She sailed up the Kyles of Bute as far as Rhubodach where she tested her inflatable liferaft and then made for Gourock where she remained overnight.

ISLE OF ARRAN faced technical problems on Thursday. As a result the 09.45 ex Kennacraig and the 14.00 ex Islay were cancelled. She sailed from Kennacraig at 17.20 as per timetable.

Ardnamurchan community councils are furious after Highland Council have decided to increase fares on the Corran Ferry by 20% from April 1^st .

Three haulage companies and Shiel Buses are likely to avoid the ferry and use the 15-mile single track detour on the A861road.

2,500 people live and work on the peninsular and the community councils of Ardgour, Acharacle, Morvern,Sunart and West Ardnamurchan believe that the increase will have a negative effect on the local economy. They are particularly angry as they were not consulted prior to the decision being taken.

Highland Council has argued that the 20% increase meant that it would only just break even on the ferry service after five years of spiralling fuel costs.

Islanders on Luing are “disapointed “ at Argyll and Bute Council’s response to calls for a more robust ferry service.

The islanders have called for a failsafe ferry system in the event of a medical emergency but the council said this was not required, as the emergency services would be there to assist.

At the present time only one ferry-man is “on call” but two ferry-men are required to operate the vehicle ferry to the island.

A spokeswoman for the council said:” The council does not have a failsafe simply because the weather may prevent the ferry from operating.

“ The emergency services are there to provide the service and the council will do whatever it can to assist”.

The Ullapool – Stornoway freight service (MUIRNEAG) is cancelled tonight due to adverse weather conditions.

ISLE OF ARRAN departed from Aberdeen on Thursday 14^th and sailed back to Kennacraig, where she arrived at 19.30 the next day, via the Skye Bridge and the Kylerhea Narrows. She resumed service at 09.45 on Sunday 17^th.

LOCH TARBERT made it to Barra where she relieved LOCH BHRUSDA. She is now at Ardmaleish for her annual overhaul.

There was widespread outrage among the islands thirty years ago this week at the news that Caledonian MacBrayne were to propose a 10% increase in ferry charges.

The increase was proposed despite a subsidy to CalMac from the government. This still leaves the state-owned firm with losses of £650.000 to be recouped from the rise in fares.

LOCH FYNE was relieved by LOCH ALAINN on Wednesday 6^th. She sailed to Craignure where she stayed overnight. She departed from the Mull pier on Sunday 10^th and sailed via the Sound of Jura to Kennacraig where she arrived at 16.30. LOCH FYNE arrived at Largs at 16.45 the next day to unload crew cars before mooring at the outer face of the pier. On Tuesday 12^th she sailed up to the Garvel dry-dock, which she will share with BUTE.

The weather created havoc with the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet on Friday 8^th as many services throughout the network were cancelled or disrupted. On Sunday LORD OF THE ISLES sailed to Colonsay from Oban at 09.00 as Friday’s scheduled sail by ISLE OF MULL was cancelled.

LOCH TARBERT, not long out of overhaul at Ardmaleish, set sail from Campbeltown at 09.30 on Saturday 9^th bound for Lochaline where she arrived at 21.30 and berthed at the pier. The following day she set sail for Barra but had to turn back due to a technical problem.

LOCH ALAINN also suffered from problems on the Fishnish – Lochaline route on Sunday.This was sorted by the late afternoon.

The reduced service on the Kennacraig – Islay route continues as ISLE OF ARRAN is still away for overhaul in Aberdeen and HEBRIDEAN ISLES soldiers on with the service on her own.

The long-suffering islanders of Gigha are facing the long slog of a ferry service to Kennacraig after the ferry’s mainland terminal at Tayinloan has once again been choked with sand and weed driven ashore by recent storms.

Caledonian MacBrayne has warned this will continue “for the foreseeable future” until dredging can take place.

Not only is the journey to Kennacraig longer, but also the numbers on board the ferry are restricted to twelve. Maritime regulations class this route as a sea voyage and reduce the numbers of people and vehicles allowed on board this type of vessel accordingly.

Missed sailings because of storms and council industrial action means the island will have to go a month between uplifts of rubbish.

When the Tayinloan slipway silted up last winter the island’s farmers had to dump milk and, on one occasion, ran low on cattle feed. Island pupils at Campbeltown Grammer School had to stay in the town or have work sent home.

A Scottish Parliament committee is to hold a public meeting in Oban next month as part of an enquiry into ferry services in Scotland.

The Parliament’s transport committee is keen to hear the views of ferry users and other interested parties to assist the enquiry.

The frequency of ferries, new routes, capacity and integration with buses and trains are also issues on which the committee is keen to hear views.

Committee members will undertake a series of fact-finding visits to engage with ferry users in Lewis, Mallaig, Dunoon and Arran.

The Oban public meeting, which will be held in the Corran Halls, will take place on Tuesday March 4^th with all comments on the enquiry to be received by Monday March 31^st.

A more reliable ferry service is needed on Easdale, according to the island’s community group, after both the regular and relief ferries were damaged in recent storms.

The Easdale ferry, run by Argyll and Bute Council, and the relief vessel, which also serves Cuan on the neighbouring island of Luing, were swamped at their moorings in storms last month.

As well as damage to the vessels, the outboard engines suffered from water ingress and no sailings took place while they were repaired.

PS MOUNTAINEER (III) was launched by A&J Ingles, Glasgow on Thursday 10^th February 1910. Her Yard No was 291.

She was the last paddle steamer to be built for David MacBrayne and was similar to PIONEER (1905) in many respects.

MOUNTAINEER never became identified closely with any particular route and rarely worked north of Fort William or Tobermory. She did the Oban – Crinan service, Oban – Sound of Mull – Tobermory mail run relieving LOCHINVAR, West Loch Tarbert – Islay relieving PIONEER, the Portree mail run relieving FUSILIER and a winter service among Rothesay, Greenock and Lochgoilhead. During the First World War she ran on the Gareloch route on charter to the North British Railway Company.

During the summer months MOUNTAINEER was, without exception, based at Oban from where she latterly conducted excursions as required and maintained a scheduled service to and from Lismore.

Many Caledonian MacBrayne sailings were disrupted or cancelled due to the continuing adverse weather conditions on Sunday 3^rd and Monday 4^th .

The request sailings at 07.10 and 18.15 ex Iona and 18.00 ex Fionnphort (LOCH BUIE) will be unavailable until further notice. The service was suspended yesterday at 10.50. The situation was reviewed at 12.00 and the last sailing was at 16.15.

LOCH TARBERT re-entered the water at Ardmaleish yesterday but was unable to moor at Rothesay due to strike action. She sailed to Gourock and tied up at the wires instead.ISLE OF CUMBRAE remains on the slip.

LOCH ALAINN arrived at Craignure where she stayed overnight on Sunday 3^rd. She then sailed up the Sound of Mull for trials on the Lochaline – Fishnish route. LOCH FYNE is expected to sail down to the Clyde.

CORUISK has departed from the King George V Dock and has entered service on the Wemyss Bay – Rothesay route in place of ARGYLE. She is away for her first overhaul.

The Tayinloan - Gigha service (LOCH RANZA) is facing disrutions due to a build up of sand and weed at Tayinloan. This service will be operating to and from Kennacraig for the forseeable future. The service must be booked through Kennacraig - Tel 01880 730253 using option 2. The following timetable will apply:- dep Gigha – 07.30, 11.30, 15.00. dep Kennacraig – 09.15, 13.15, 16.35.

Due to adverse weather conditions the 18.00 sailing from Kennacraig has been cancelled (HEBRIDEAN ISLES) . This means that the 04.15 sailing from Islay tomorrow (04/02) has also been cancelled.

All sailings on the Berneray - Leverburgh (Sound of Harris) route were cancelled for today due to adverse weather(LOCH PORTAIN).The next sailing will depart from Berneray at 07.25 tomorrow weather permitting.

Ferry services throughout the Caledonian MacBrayne network have been severely disrupted by the atrocious weather conditions during the last few days.

The Ullapool-Stornoway service (ISLE OF LEWIS) was delayed today (2/02) due to technical reasons. Arrival time at Ullapool - 20.10hrs.Arrival time at Stornoway - 23.30hrs,all times approximate.

CLANSMAN is in Birkenhead for her annual overhaul, while ISLE OF ARRAN is in Aberdeen also for overhaul. LOCH TARBERT and ISLE OF CUMBRAE are at Ardmaleish for their overhauls.

After LOCH LINNHE returned to Tobermory, RAASAY sailed to Oban where she is layed up pending EIGG going to Corpach for overhaul.

Following on from the news item posted on January 20^th, members of Highland Council’s transport services committee have approved work and improvements costing £650,000 to the slipway at Nether Lochaber, which is in poor condition and in need of essential repairs.

Combinations of age, strong currents and more powerful ferry engines have all caused the slipway to deteriorate.

Designs for the work are nearing completion and the Council hopes to invite tenders from interested contractors within the next six weeks.

The ferry concerned, CORRAN, which entered service in 2001, plies the route across the Corran Narrows from Nether Lochaber to Ardgour.