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| February 2009 news 28/02/09.
Iain Quinn took us on a journey around “West Highland Piers” at the Club meeting on Friday 27th. The only stipulation was that a ship was at each pier.
Iain started his journey at West Loch Tarbert and continued to Kennacraig, Gigha, Craighouse, Crinan, Port Ellen, Port Askaig, Colonsay, Tiree, Coll, Mallaig, Inverie, Kyle of Lochalsh, Toscaig, Gairloch, Aultbea, Mellon Charles, Ullapool, Stornoway, Tarbert (Harris), Lochmaddy, Dunvegan, Uig, Portree, Raasay, Broadford, Armadale, Canna, Lochboisdale, Castlebay, Bunessan, Tobermory, Mingary, Salen, Lochaline, Corpach, Fort William, Port Appin, Lismore, Craignure and finally three piers in Oban-the Railway Pier, South Pier and the North Pier.
The photographs ranged from the historic to the modern. Many of the modern photos were taken by John Ramsey, Jim Aikman-Smith and Hamish Stewart, shipping photographers of distinction sadly no longer with us.
John Whittle, Honorary President of the West Highland Steamer Club, gave the vote of thanks.
The next meeting is on Friday 27th March when the guest speaker will be Mr Gordon Ross, Managing Director; Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd. Mr Ross’s presentation is entitled “Western Ferries Past, Present and Future”.
All meetings are held in The Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow commencing at 19.30.
Duncan Wilson.
The following services to and from Islay have been withdrawn.
The 09.45 from Port Ellen on Sunday 1st March, the 07.00 and 17.00 on Monday 2nd also from Port Ellen, the 07.00 on Tuesday 3rd from Port Askaig, the 17.00 on Tuesday from Port Ellen and the 09.45 and 18.00 from Kennacraig on both Monday and Tuesday. An additional 04.15 sailing will operate from Islay on Monday.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
The former Caledonian MacBrayne vessel CLAYMORE has been sold to Danish interests. She departs for pastures new on Sunday 15th March.
Reports suggest that Pentland Ferries’s other vessel PENTALINA B (ex IONA) is also for sale. She is at Dunkerque just now, on charter to the livestock trade, but hasn’t moved for about three weeks.
Source: Ferries of Northern Europe.
LOCH FYNE has departed from the James Watt Dock having completed her overhaul. She was spotted heading passed Wemyss Bay this morning en route for Largs.
Source: Clydesite-Calum McCulloch.
15/02/09.
Sailings on the Berneray - Leverburgh (Sound of Harris) route will be disrupted or delayed due to tidal conditions from Wednesday 25th to Sunday 1st March.
The following sailings have been cancelled:
Wednesday 25th - 11.10 sailing from Berneray and 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh .
Thursday 26th - 11.10 sailing from Berneray and 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh .
There will be additional sailings on Thursday departing from Berneray at 09.45 and from Leverburgh at 10.55.
Friday 27th - 11.10 sailing from Berneray and 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh .
There will be additional sailings on Friday departing from Berneray at 09.45 and from Leverburgh at 10.55.
Saturday 28th - 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh and 14.30 sailing from Berneray .
Sunday 1st March -13.30 sailing from Berneray and 14.40 sailing from Leverburgh .
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
North Uist and Berneray residents have had their hopes of a dedicated ferry
service across the Minch dashed. CalMac regional manager David Taylor told a meeting of North Uist and Berneray community councils that he couldn't see the possibility of a Lochmaddy-Uig service, which excluded Tarbert in the near future. He said: "You would need another ferry, and there won't be any tonnage freed up until the new Islay ferry is built at the end of 2011. "That would be the first time you could look at something like that, but there may be other priorities for the vessel that's freed up. "You would need a dedicated Uig-Tarbert vessel, something not envisaged as being top priority." There was, however, better news however on next winter's Uig- Lochmaddy sailings. Mr Taylor said: "We are currently working on the forthcoming winter timetable, and we understand that both the Tarbert and Uist communities would like the Wednesday and Friday timetables to be the same as Mondays, with a 6pm crossing from Uig. With support from both communities it is something we will look at closely." Mr Taylor was also asked if there were any plans to extend the timetable on the Sound of Harris. He said that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar had greatly improved the navigational aids in the Sound, and that CalMac were waiting for a response from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) about the possibility of extending the sunset restriction for a further hour. He said: "CalMac is working hard behind the scenes to resolve the issues. We are working on the forthcoming winter timetable and pushing hard for the MCA to respond to that." Source: The Stornoway Gazette, Tuesday 24th per Ferries of Northern Europe.
CLANSMAN sailed down to Oban on Saturday 21st. She carried out the Coll and Tiree sailings to allow LORD OF THE ISLES some time off for maintenance to her bow visor.
She sailed to Coll and Tiree again on Sunday 22nd while LORD OF THE ISLES sailed to The Outer Isles. CLANSMAN remained in Oban for a few hours before making her way down to the Clyde for her annual overhaul.
After a brief stop at Gourock on Monday 23rd to unload crew’s cars CLANSMAN moved into the Garvel dry-dock.
ISLE OF ARRAN and LOCH FYNE were sitting in the James Watt Dock throughout Monday and Tuesday completing their overhauls.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.net/
21/02/09.
LOCH BHRUSDA moved from Ardmaleish to Rothesay to complete her overhaul on Wednesday 18th. She is due to relieve LOCH PORTAIN on the Sound of Harris route to allow her to go to Greenock for overhaul.
ISLE OF LEWIS arrived back at Ullapool around 10.00 on Thursday but did not return to service. She only moved to allow CLANSMAN access to Ullapool Pier.
CLANSMAN was still on the Ullapool-Stornoway service on Friday. She is due away for overhaul on Monday 23rd.
ISLE OF MULL arrived at Craignure ten minutes early on Thursday’s 12.00 sailing from Oban.
Caledonian MacBrayne are advising their customers that the Mallaig-Armadale service will be for passengers only for a week as from Monday 23rd. The linkspan at Armadale will be closed for essential maintenance.
Source: Ships of CalMac, Caledonian MacBrayne.
The visit to Glasgow by HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS, due this weekend, did not happen. Apparently the ship was still in Hull on Thursday 19th.
Hebridean Cruises were keen to bring the ship into the city but high pilotage and berthing charges ruled the visit out.
Source: Clydesite-Richard Davies and Patrick Hill.
17/02/09.
ISLE OF LEWIS has left Fredericia having completed her overhaul. She is expected back at Ullapool by midday on Thursday 19th.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.net/
12/02/09.
S S CAVALIER was built by Aitken & Mansel, Whiteinch where she was launched on Monday 12th February 1883. Her Yard No was 121.
Built to carry both passengers and cargo, her gross tonnage was 388. She was 151.1 ft in length and had a breadth of 25.1 ft.
Her 2 Cylinder Compound engines, built by Muir & Caldwell, produced a nominal horsepower of 113.
CAVALIER entered service on the Glasgow-Inverness route for David MacBrayne, a route on which she predominantly served throughout out her career.
The dimensions of the locks on the Caledonian Canal dictated her design.
In spite of her rather stumpy appearance she was actually quite an attractive ship with a handsome profile.
With her comparatively deep draught, she frequently grounded in the Caledonian Canal. However the Inverness route was always quite leisurely compared with other all year services, a week being allowed for the round trip. A large proportion of her time was spent in sheltered waters.
CAVALIER was employed on other routes and was sometimes seen on the Glasgow-Stornoway and Glasgow-Islay routes in winter.
At the Glasgow Fair she sailed down the Clyde from Glasgow to Greenock where she connected with IONA for the Royal route sailing to Ardrishaig. In 1900 she sailed all the way from Glasgow to Ardrishaig.
With the passing of time the Inverness route became uneconomic and in 1919 CAVALIER was sold to The North of Scotland & Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Co Ltd who re-named her FETLAR. In March 1920 she was purchased by the Dundalk & Newry Steam Packet Co Ltd for their cattle trade to Birkenhead, in which she finished her career.
She was scrapped in 1927.
Source: Clydesite, Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.
10/02/09.
Today’s 13.00 departure from Kennacraig was delayed by technical problems. HEBRIDEAN ISLES left at 13.30 and arrived at Port Askaig at 15.30.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.net/
09/02/09.
The overhauls continue apace as LOCH BHRUSDA changed over with LOCH TARBERT at Ardmaleish on Friday 6th.
After berthing overnight at Rothesay LOCH TARBERT move to Roseneath on Saturday, where she will remain until the start of the summer timetable.
ISLE OF CUMBRAE is also at Ardmaleish completing her overhaul at the present time.
This morning ISLE OF ARRAN entered the Garvel Dry-dock, which she is sharing with LOCH FYNE.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.net/
07/02/09.
ISLE OF ARRAN departed from Kennacraig this morning bound for the Clyde where she will undergo her annual overhaul. She arrived at Gourock in the early evening.
Source: Clydesite-Elliot Bowman and John Huggins.
06/02/09.
The early morning sailing from Port Askaig to Kennacraig tomorrow will depart at 07.00 not 04.15 as per timetable.
Sailings between Ullapool and Stornoway were running up to 1 ½ hours late today due to the northerly swell in the Minch.
Tonight’s freight service is cancelled again. Given the time of year it is reasonable to assume that CLANSMAN can carry all the available traffic.
LOCH BHRUSDA arrived on the Clyde today. After berthing at Rhubodach to unload crew’s cars, she sailed to Rothesay before going on to Ardmaleish for her overhaul.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne, Ships of CalMac.
05/02/09.
Having completed her overhaul LOCH RANZA departed from Rothesay on Sunday 25th January bound for Campbeltown where she spent the night.
An inspection of Tayinloan Slipway, which had been infested with weeds, took place the following day. The inspection over, LOCH LINNHE took up the service from RAASAY, which moved down to Gigha Pier. She left bound for Oban on Tuesday 27th
LOCH RANZA resumed her roster on the Gigha service at 14.00.
LOCH LINNHE departed for Oban at 13.00. She left Oban on Tuesday en route for Tobermory.
Also on Tuesday ISLE OF LEWIS entered dry-dock at Fredericia, Denmark.
Wednesday 28th saw ISLE OF CUMBRAE leave Tobermory at 09.15 bound for Campbeltown. LOCH LINNHE took over her own roster on the Tobermory-Kilchoan route.
LOCH ALAINN departed from Gourock at 10.00on Saturday 31st, her eventual destination being the Fishnish-Lochaline route where she would relieve LOCH FYNE for overhaul on the Clyde.
LOCH ALAINN stayed overnight at Campbeltown . She departed on Sunday 1st February bound for Craignure and took over from LOCH FYNE at 06.30 on Monday.
In the meantime LOCH BHRUSDA was also on the move. She departed from Tobermory on Tuesday 3rd bound for an overnight stay at Kennacraig before sailing on to the Clyde and an appointment at Ardmaleish.
After a short stay on the Kilchoan route LOCH LINNHE was on the move again. She relieved LOCH BHRUSDA on the Sound of Barra service between Ardmhor and Eriskay.
The weather has been fairly kind to Caledonian MacBrayne so far this month.
On Tuesday 3rd HEBRIDES sailed to Tarbert instead of Lochmaddy at 09.40.
The Stornoway-Ullapool freight service was cancelled on Wednesday and is again cancelled tonight due to a heavy northerly swell running up the Minch.
This service has now been cancelled three nights on the trot.
Yesterday the 17.35 from Ullapool was cancelled meaning that the 07.00 return from Stornoway this morning was also cancelled.
Source: Ships of CalMac, Caledonian MacBrayne.
There is not likely to be any funding for a new ferry to Lismore from the mainland until 2012-13.
This was revealed at two meetings last week at Port Appin and Lismore attended by representatives of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) and MVA Consultancy who were presenting the first stage in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) study into ferry options for Lismore.
Two ferries currently run between Lismore and the mainland. A car ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne runs from Oban to Achnacroish while a passenger only ferry operated by Argyll and Bute Council, runs from Port Appin to Point on Lismore.
Both ferries are due for replacement during the next five years and the STAG aims to come up with options in consultation with local communities and relevant organisations, which will be presented to the Scottish Government, which would provide funding.
Among the options are a roll on-roll off ferry from Port Appin to Lismore and passenger only to Oban from Achnacroish, a fixed link from Port Appin or the status quo with improved boats.
Lorna Spencer, director of harbours and piers with CMAL, told the meeting in Appin that the present pier at Port Appin was unsuitable for a ro-ro ferry and other sites would have to be investigated.
The Lismore meeting was equally divided for and against a north end car ferry but the consultation exercise recognised that the passenger ferry was used as a “car ferry”with islanders having a car on Lismore and at Port Appin.
Dr Iain McNicol said the present operating times of the ferry meant that a helicopter had been called out to Lismore three times already this year.
The consultants are due to hold a public meeting before the end of March when the finalised findings are due to be published.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 5th February.
03/02/09.
The ferry service from Fionnphort to Iona would still appear to be subject to disruptions and alterations due to the ongoing repair work on the Iona Slipway.
Tonight’s freight run from Stornoway to Ullapool is cancelled for weather related reasons.
The sailing from Oban to Coll and Tiree on Saturday 7th February will run at normal Saturday times contrary to what the timetable says i.e. Depart Oban 06.45, arrive Coll 09.40, depart Coll 09.45,arrive Tiree 10.45, depart Tiree 11.00, arrive Coll 12.00, depart Coll 12.05 arrive Oban 15.00.
The Berneray - Leverburgh (Sound of Harris) service will be disrupted or delayed due to tidal conditions from Monday 9th until Friday 13th .
The following sailings are cancelled:
Monday 9th 11.10 sailing from Berneray and 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh .
Tuesday 10th 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh and 14.30 sailing from Berneray .
Wednesday 11th 12.20 sailing from Leverburgh and 14.30 sailing from Berneray .
Thursday 12th 14.30 sailing from Berneray and 15.40 sailing from Leverburgh .
Friday 13th 14.30 sailing from Berneray and 15.40 sailing from Leverburgh .
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk