news |
| June 2006 news As a result of restrictions placed on the numbers of passengers allowed on board the Iona ferry, LOCH BUIE, Caledonian MacBrayne have introduced changes which will permit the ferry to carry her full complement of 250 passengers.
A fifth crewmember will now be available to work at peak periods of the day, which are normally around lunchtime.
There were chaotic scenes at Fionnphort on Sunday May 21st when six coach loads of tourists arrived for a trip to Iona. Due to the number of crew on board, LOCH BUIE was restricted to carrying only 150.
Many visitors did not go to Iona. The only restaurant in Fionnphort was mobbed and stopped serving lunches at 1400 in case they ran out of food before they could get another delivery. The ferry waiting room kiosk at Fionnphort quickly ran out of food. Meanwhile the restaurant at Martyr’s Bay on the island was fairly quiet.
Source: The Oban Times.
The cruise ship BLACK PRINCE opened the cruise season at Oban as she sailed into the bay last weekend (27-28/05). Built in 1966 as a car ferry, she was refitted as a cruise ship by Fred Olsen. BLACK PRINCE is a regular visitor to Oban.
Keeping her company were HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS and the Sandown Class mine counter measure vessel, HMS BLYTH.
The next cruise ship to arrive, ASTOR, is due in Oban today (03/06).
Fewer liners will be visiting Oban this year with more going straight to Iona. The island has already welcomed four ships.
Source: The Oban Times.
03/06/06.
Sailings across the Sound of Harris were delayed yesterday (05/06) due to dense fog.
LOCH PORTAIN departed from Berneray at 0720 but anchored half way across the Sound.
She departed from Leverburgh at 1010 and arrived at Berneray at around 1110. The 1205 sailing ex Leverburgh was delayed until 1310.
ISLE OF LEWIS has been withdrawn from service on Wednesday 7th due to operational issues.
The Norovirus has been confirmed as the source of an illness, which caused crew members to fall sick. This became apparent on Monday 5th. The relevant health authorities have been informed and the ship will be subjected to specialist cleaning procedures. All being well ISLE OF LEWIS will return to service on Thursday 8th.
All traffic will be re-routed through Uig and Tarbert. The following timetable will operate:
0730 Tarbert – Uig (HEBRIDES).
1230 Uig – Tarbert (LORD OF THE ISLES).
1445 Tarbert – Uig (LORD OF THE ISLES).
1730 Uig – Tarbert (LORD OF THE ISLES).
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac.
6/6/06.
Caledonian MacBrayne has denied any claims that a huge increase has been imposed on small vans, sparking of a row with island hauliers.
The normal rate for vans less than five metres in length and weighing less than 3.5 tons is the same as for a private car. This remains the same. However a higher charge has been imposed in a number of cases where under-charging, on small vans, has taken place over a period of time. These vehicles have been operating, mostly out of Oban, and are now being charged at a higher rate to give fairness and probity to commercial users. This means that some small vans are now being charged at the same rate as larger vehicles. Otherwise the only increase has been the annual 2 % rise for all commercial users imposed on June 1st.
Some island hauliers bought small vans because of CalMac’s five-metre commercial cut-off, but now they feel that any new charges could be disastrous for the islands.
Other hauliers, particularly those who operate large vehicles, welcome the charges because small operators were getting on board the ferries for the price of a car.
Others spoke up for small operators because they offered a tremendous service and can get spare parts to the islands the next day.
Source: The Oban Times.
Passengers on board ISLE OF MULL were treated to an impromptu ceilidh recently much to their surprise and delight.
The Oban and Lorne Strathspey and Reel Society loaded fiddles, accordions, flutes and drums on to the ship as they embarked on their journey to a fiddlers rally on Iona. By the time they had cleared Oban Bay the party was in full swing.
The concert, which took place in Iona Hall, was filled with locals and visitors.
Source: The Oban Times.
In a report from twenty-five years ago The Oban Times Those Were The Days Column tells us that the Greek cruise ship ARGONAUT was anchored in Tobermory Bay.
Meanwhile REGINA MARIS sailed north through the Sound of Mull having dropped off her passengers at Craignure before being taken by coach to Iona.
Source: The Oban times.
10/6/06.
LORD OF THE ISLES arrived back in Oban at 0830 on the morning of Thursday 8th after sailing overnight from Uig. She was engaged on relief duties working between Uig and Tarbert, Harris as ISLE OF LEWIS was out of service on Wednesday 7th.
On Sunday 11th CLANSMAN was berthed bow-in at Castlebay. Usually she berths with her stern at the linkspan. She may have been testing her port lifeboat.
HEBRIDES’s 1800 departure from Uig on Monday 12th was delayed until 1855 due to strong winds.
RAASAY is presently berthed at the wires at Gourock Pier.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
17/6/06.
The former Caledonian MacBrayne vessel CLAYMORE arrived at Dover Harbour this afternoon (19/06) at 1516. She is reported to being under the ownership of Sea Containers and is presently used as a livestock carrier.
Source: Clydesite-Ted Ingham.
19/6/06.
Strong winds affected various sailings among the Western Isles today (20/06).
The second call at Muck was cancelled.
The 1530 Oban – Lochboisdale and Castlebay sailing was cancelled. The next sailing will be at 1340 tomorrow.
The 1730 ex Berneray and 1840 ex Leverburgh were cancelled. The next sailing is at 0720 tomorrow ex Berneray.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne.
CLAYMORE crossed from Dover to Dunkirk last night carrying livestock. She is on charter to a farmer’s co-operative for two or three months. The origin of her crew is not known.
HEIDI (ex CALEDONIA) has been refloated and faces an uncertain future.
ISLE OF ARRAN was fifteen minutes late on arrival at Port Ellen tonight after divers had to check her propellers for a snagged creel line at Kennacraig.
Source: Ships of CalMac.
The following cruise ships will be visiting ports of the Western Isles during the month of July.
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT Stornoway 1300 – 2000 20th, Tobermory 0800 – 1300 21st, Iona 1700 – 2100 21st.
AMADEA Ullapool 0800 – 1830 24th.
DEUTSCHLAND Stornoway 1200 – 1700 24th.
Source: Ships Monthly.
Newsletter No. 73 has been published and distributed to the Club Membership.
The Newsletter has been produced, as usual, by Derek Crawford, Robin Love and Ian McCrorie and would not exist were it not for the help and information provided by Caledonian MacBrayne to whom grateful thanks are extended.
Additional information has been provided by Ian Colquhoun, Robin Love, Gordon Law, Ian McPherson, Stephen Hurst and David Ritchie. Many thanks to all concerned.
Information has also been gathered from the Ships of CalMac and Clydesite websites.
The Newsletter contains an Obituary, written by Gordon Law, to Hamish Stewart, Club President 1998 – 2000.
The Club is very much indebted to Robin Boyd who has written an article for the Newsletter commemorating the 80th anniversary of the launch of KING GEORGE V.
Some of the information owes its roots to an article entitled “ Diamond King” which Robin wrote for the Clyde River Steamer Club magazine No. 22 of 1986.
Extracts from Robin’s article have been published on the Newsletter page on this website.
Photographs of KING GEORGE V were provided by Robin Boyd (W Carmichael’s picture of the ship aground on Scarba), Ian McCrorie including the J Aikman-Smith pictures and Lawrence MacDuff.
Duncan Wilson.
20/6/06.
Strong winds continued to cause disruptions to ferry traffic today (21/6).
The 1340 service to Barra, which was to include a call at Lochboisdale after yesterdays sailing was cancelled, did not run today either. All being well CLANSMAN will sail for Barra via Coll and Tiree at 0830 tomorrow. LORD OF THE ISLES will sail for Lochboisdale and Castlebay at 1530 tomorrow.
Following an improvement in the weather an amended timetable operated between Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy ( HEBRIDES).
Dep Lochmaddy 1430.
Dep Uig 1800.
Arr Tarbert 1930.
Dep Tarbert 1940.
Arr Lochmaddy 2130.
The 1800 sailing to Lochmaddy sails via Tarbert. The 1600 sailing from Tarbert to Uig is cancelled.
LOCH PORTAIN sailed across the Sound of Harris from Berneray at 1330 and returned from Leverburgh at 1510. Next sailing will be 1730 ex Berneray and 1840 ex Leverburgh.
The only sailings across the Sound of Barra were at 1545 ex Ardhmor, 1635 ex Eriskay, 1730 ex Ardhmor and 1855 ex Eriskay. (LOCH BHRUSDA).
LOCH NEVIS departed at 1500 bound for Rum (1630) and Canna (1730/1830) returning to Mallaig at 2100 approx.
All sailings on the Mallaig – Armadale route were cancelled until 1455 when it was hoped that the service would return to normal (CORUISK).
HEBRIDEAN ISLES did not make it up to Oban today therefore the 1530 sailing to Colonsay was cancelled. Next sailing will be tomorrow at 0900 by LORD OF THE ISLES.
Sailings by the Glenelg ferry, GLENACHULISH, have also been suspended today due to the weather.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac/BBC Scotland Travel News.
21/6/06 (1750).
The 0700 sailing on Saturday 24th from Kennacraig to Port Ellen was ten minutes late in leaving due to problems with a low loader carrying a digger negotiating the linkspan (HEBRIDEAN ISLES).
The Iona sailings were disrupted on Monday 26th around about midday possibly due to low tides. Normal service had resumed by the afternoon (LOCH BUIE).
The 1800 service from Oban to Craignure (ISLE OF MULL) was twenty minutes late in leaving due to heavy traffic.
Due to problems with ISLE OF ARRAN on Tuesday 27th, the Islay service was severely disrupted. HEBRIDEAN ISLES and LORD OF THE ISLES operated an amended timetable. She was taken out of service for repairs and returned around 1300 on Wednesday. It is believed that she hit the linkspan at Kennacraig.
EIGG transported a fuel tanker to Craignure on Wednesday. Hazardous cargoes are not permitted on board ISLE OF MULL.
The former Eigg flit boat LAIG BAY is for sale again. She was sold out of the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet on 17th December 2005.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
Caledonian MacBrayne has clarified the position regarding the shipment of motorhomes and caravans to Colonsay following confusion in some sections of the media. It has been suggested that these vehicles are barred from the ferry and the island. However this is not the case.
CalMac will advise their customers, as part of the booking service, that they are not allowed to stay on the island unless they are personally invited to stay on someone’s land. The reason for this was probably taken when ro-ro ferries were introduced.
The island’s twelve miles of road are not suitable for caravans and motorhomes. In addition there is only one public hosepipe, which is at the pier and nowhere to empty chemical toilets.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/The Oban Times.
A fast ferry, similar to the vessel being used on the new Troon – Campbeltown service, could be introduced on a new service between Crinan and Craighouse on Jura. It would have a cabin, which could hold twelve passengers.
The Scottish Executive has already placed £40,000 towards the service. The ferry could be up and running by early next summer but it would almost certainly be seasonal.
Source: The Oban Times.
The Taynuilt Gaelic Choir chartered the Loch Etive cruise boat ANNE OF ETIVE for their annual fundraising ceilidh cruise on Saturday 24th. The theme for the trip was Pirates of the Hebridean.
Source: The Oban Times.
30th June 2006.
|
Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk