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| June 2008 news MV SATURN was launched on the 30th June 1977 from the yard of Ailsa Shipbuilding, Troon and entered service on 2nd February 1978.
Originally introduced as the dedicated Rothesay to Wemyss Bay ferry, SATURN has proved a very versatile and useful member of the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet. In addition to long service on the Rothesay to Wemyss Bay route, SATURN has also seen service on the Dunoon to Gourock route, has operated “cruise trips” for several seasons and for the past 3 years, in addition to providing relief cover on the Dunoon and Rothesay routes during the winter overhaul programme, has operated a “second vessel” ferry service between Brodick and Ardrossan. On a number of occasions this extra service has been cancelled at short notice when SATURN’s adaptability and flexibility has been required to cover breakdowns elsewhere on the Clyde.
On Saturday 15th September 2007, SATURN travelled to Kennacraig, Port Ellen and Port Askaig to carry out berthing trails, which were successful. She berthed at Kennacraig overnight and returned to the Clyde the next day.
On 20th September 2007, she provided a viewing cruise to sail past the berthed QE2 at Greenock Ocean Terminal and in the afternoon and then provided a second cruise to “escort” QE2 on her departure from Greenock.
After a normal pattern of service for 2008, SATURN ended her 2nd ferry Brodick service on Thursday 28th August and moved to Gourock to provide additional cover for the Cowal Games weekend. After the busy weekend, JUPITER was withdrawn for a programme of planned maintenance on the wires at Gourock and SATURN took over as the Dunoon to Gourock ferry.
SATURN is depicted in the 2008 Club calendar at Port Ellen.
Photograph: Iain McPherson.
Charles McCrossan.
25/06/08.
The following cruise vessels will be calling at ports and islands of the Western Isles during the month of July.
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLTDT. Stornoway 9th 13.00-20.00, Tobermory 10th 08.00-13.00, Iona 10th 17.00-21.00.
ASTORIA Stornoway 14th 13.00-18.30.
C COLUMBAS Portree 27th, Stornoway 28th.
HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS Oban 1st 08.00-19.00, Sheildaig 2nd, Gairloch 3rd, Kerracher 4th.
MAASDAM Stornoway 28th 10.00-17.00.
MARCO POLO Portree 13th, Tobermory 14th 07.30-17.00.
22/06/08.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne today launches “CalMac Connects”, its new e-communications programme which will keep customers up to date with what’s happening around the Caledonian MacBrayne network.
LOCH BHRUSDA arrived at Rothesay where she stayed overnight on Monday 16th. The following day she moved round to Ardmaleish and was immediately slipped for overhaul.
LOCH FYNE and LOCH RANZA suffered from technical problems on Thursday 19th but these were quickly sorted out and both vessels returned to service.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
15/06/08.
MV LOCH FYNE was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd, Port Glasgow and was launched on Wednesday 12th June 1991.
She was built for Caledonian MacBrayne’s Skye service from Kyle of Lochalsh to Kyleakin. After the Skye Bridge was opened on 16th October 1995 LOCH FYNE was laid up in the James Watt Dock, Greenock, with her sister, LOCH DUNVEGAN.
LOCH DUNVEGAN was the first of the sisters to leave Greenock. She sailed to Mull where she replaced LOCH ALAINN, which had suffered a serious breakdown, on the Fishnish – Lochaline roster. LOCH DUNVEGAN then broke down and had to be towed back to the Clyde.
LOCH FYNE was quickly reactivated and sailed to Mull where she took over the Fishnish – Lochaline on 27th September 1997.
Since then she has hardly ever deviated from this route although she has taken special cargoes to Lismore and has appeared at Corran.
LOCH FYNE (1991) is pictured at Lismore Pier on 23rd March 2003 and features on the May page in the 2008 Club Calendar. Photograph: The late Hamish Stewart, Club President 1998-2000.
Source: Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
Tidal conditions delayed CLANSMAN’s 18.50 departure from Castlebay on Wednesday 11th until 23.00.
The ferry service between Barra and Eriskay (LOCH BHRUSDA) was disrupted on Thursday 12th due to technical problems. The 07.15, 08.10, 09.25 and 10.15 sailings were all cancelled.
LOCH TARBERT returned to her summer roster on the Lochranza-Claonaig service on Thursday allowing LOCH RIDDON to return to Largs.
LOCH ALAINN carried out trials on Loch Linnhe on Friday 13th. She departed from Corpach in the evening and stopped overnight at Craignure or Lochaline en route to the Sound of Barra where she arrived on Sunday 15th.
The relief vessel, LOCH BHRUSDA, departed for Oban for fuel then headed off to Port Askaig where she will stay over night.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac.
09/06/08.
LOCH BHRUSDA awoke from her slumbers at Rosneath on Wednesday 4th and made her way to Rothesay where she was berthed at 18.45. Her ultimate destination was Barra where she is relieving LOCH ALAINN, which had to depart for Corpach for repairs.
LOCH BHRUSDA spent the night at Lochranza where she shared the pier with LOCH TARBERT. The following morning LOCH BHRUSDA departed from Lochranza bound for Lochaline where she berthed at the old steamer pier. On Friday 6th she arrived at Barra.
On Saturday LOCH ALAINN departed for Tobermory where she spent the night. Departure time on Sunday was 09.00. Crew cars were dropped off at Lochaline en route for Corpach where she arrived in the late afternoon.
On Monday 9th LOCH RIDDON departed from Largs in the morning and made her way to Lochranza to relieve LOCH TARBERT. She is going to either Greenock or Ardmaliesh for repairs.
Caledonian MacBrayne are advising their customers to allow extra time when travelling to Uig to board the ferry for Lochmaddy and Tarbert. This is due to road works on Skye.
Drivers motoring to Mallaig are reminded that major construction work is continuing to disrupt traffic on the road from Fort William.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne.
Angry islanders on Jura are demanding improvements to the ferry stub at Port Askaig following disruptions to sailings and are turning against factions in their own community as frustrations boil over.
Argyll and Bute Council included upgrading the stub in the £13 million re-development of Port Askaig Pier. The main development work centred on a new linkspan for the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry serving the island, which the Jura ferry uses when the CalMac ferry is not there.
When the CalMac ferry is in port, the Jura ferry must use the stub, which is not accessible at low tide because the vehicle ramp is to steep. This makes it impossible for emergency vehicles to get to Jura when the tide is low.
An anonymous email, which is calling for the resignation of the community council, has been circulating around the island. The community council has been criticised for not confronting council officials, architects and ferry operators ASP Ship Management at Port Askaig during trials to assess the suitability of the ferry stub on May 22nd. The community council did not attend the trials because it was not a meeting. They have asked Argyll and Bute Council for a public meeting but have had no response.
Jura community council spend more time talking about the ferry connection at Port Askaig than anything else.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 5th June.
Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that Hugh Dan MacLennan has resigned from the position of CalMac’s communications director for personal reasons.
Dr MacLennan was responsible for public affairs, communications, marketing, office services and customer care.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 5th.
From The Oban Times Those Were The Days Column, Thursday June 4th 1998.
A funeral on Tiree had to rescheduled after LORD OF THE ISLES developed engine problems shortly after leaving Oban.
The ferry was due to arrive at Tiree at 10.15 in plenty of time for the funeral, which was at 13.00.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 5th.
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk