news

The sight of a large Caledonian MacBrayne vessel at Tobermory Pier is a delight for people living in the village.

ISLE OF ARRAN, CalMac’s spare ship, is presently tied up at the pier awaiting her next turn of duties. In days gone by the ships of David MacBrayne, and latterly CalMac, made regular calls at Tobermory.

Tobermory is well placed in the middle of the CalMac network. Should she be required for service then ISLE OF ARRAN can leave at a moments notice to provide cover for other vessels.

She will be going for her annual dry-docking at Aberdeen before starting her summer schedule with some relief work in Stornoway in April and then moving down to Islay.

CLANSMAN was in James Watt Dock on the morning of Friday 3^rd about 0945 but by 1315 she had gone.

LOCH PORTAIN arrived at Largs on Thursday 2^nd to offload crew cars and then went to Fairlie where she remained overnight. She passed Wemyss Bay at 0945 on Friday morning and was in Garvel Dry-dock by 1315.

As LOCH RANZA is at Timbacraft awaiting a part she may not be back at Gigha to relieve LOCH RIDDON to go to Tarbert to relieve LOCH TARBERT. She was due to go to Largs to relieve LOCH ALAINN for car deck work to be done. As a result LOCH PORTAIN may go to Largs towards the end of next week.

LOCH PORTAIN stayed overnight at Islay on Wednesday 1^st while enroute to the Clyde. LOCH BHRUSDA is deputising on the Sound of Harris run.

CLANSMAN departed from Gourock at 1515 bound for Lochmaddy where she will relieve HEBRIDES for overhaul. HEBRIDES was spotted passing Port Askaig on the evening of Friday 3^rd at 2015. She arrived at Birkenhead on Sunday afternoon.

Also on Friday LOCH TARBERT was delayed on the return Tarbert – Lochranza sailing. The 1515 Tarbert – Portavadie was therefore cancelled. Normal service resumed with the 1615 from Tarbert.

The funeral of Hamish Stewart took place on Friday 10^th March at the Clydebank Crematorium at 1530.

Hamish was President of the West Highland Steamer Club from 1998 – 2000 and of the Clyde River Steamer Club from 2002 – 2003.
In May 2000 he invited this writer to join the Committee of the West Highland Steamer Club. On learning of Hamish’s passing he immediately felt that part of the Club had passed away with him.

Hamish was as much a part of the Club as the late Jim Aikman-Smith. His first love was photography and became Photo Editor of the Club Newsletter after Jim died in 1996,only the second man to have held the position in forty tears of the Club’s existence.

It is remarkable to learn that he only started taking photos of steamers and ferries in the early to mid 1990s. Before that he was into aircraft. His favourite Caledonian MacBrayne ship was ISLE OF ARRAN.

Hamish would take the trouble to seek out the best locations from where to take his photos, often leaving home at some ungodly hour in order to obtain the best results. At other times he would take a more leisurely day out on board a ship together with his wife, Myra. Eleven years ago they bought a flat in Oban, which would become their second home.

No matter where or when one met Hamish he would never change. He always displayed the same easy going and relaxed manner. Down to earth and approachable, he possessed a great sense of humour and was always a joy to talk to.

Hamish was also a member of the Friends of the West Highland Lines. When the writer received his membership renewal form towards the end of last year he found a few extra words, which Hamish had written on it. He did not have to write those words but that was the sort of man that Hamish was. Always ready to give time to people, always ready with a few words of encouragement, of advice, of council. What ever he said made sense. And it was always said with a smile. A true gentleman indeed.

The writer had dearly hoped to be able to welcome Hamish back to the Club before demitting the President’s Office at the AGM at the end of April. Sadly it was not to be.

At the Club Meeting on February 28^th it was reported that Hamish was making good progress. By 3^rd March, however, he was back in intensive care having had a relapse.

After having major surgery on a massive duodenal ulcer, exacerbated by Crohn’s Disease, septicaemia had set in and his body could take no more. On Saturday 4^th March at 1220 Hamish passed away with his family by his side.

The former Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (RMAS) vessel COCKCHAFER is currently undergoing conversion into an upmarket cruise ship for operation off the Western Isles in the summer and around the Canary Isles during the winter.

When conversion work is completed in March, she will start a series of eight-day cruises from Inveraray this Easter. She will be capable of carrying twelve passengers in six suites spread over three decks.

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS set sail on her first cruise from Oban last week starting a year in which she will host HM The Queen.

HM The Queen always enjoyed a cruise on the former Royal Yacht BRITANNIA during the summer months. This year she will carry on that tradition when she charters HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS.

A reception was held for local businesses on board ship before she set sail on Thursday 2^nd March.

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry LORD OF THE ISLES was held on stand-by while the Barra lifeboat struggled to free a fishing boat, which grounded on Dubh Sgeir at the entrance to Castlebay harbour.

The incident took place on the evening of Sunday 5^th after the boat, OCEON MAID, hit the rock. LORD OF THE ISLES was about to enter the bay when the accident occurred.

Up to fifty jobs are being offered from Arran to Stornoway by Caledonian MacBrayne’s subsidiary company, Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Ltd.

The posts range from port assistants to catering ratings. The company is concerned that it has not had as good a response as it usually has. The company hopes there will be enough people in the areas served by the ferries with an interest in sea-going jobs to fill the posts.

In a report from twenty years ago the Oban Times Those Were The Days Column tells us that the new ferry, HEBRIDEAN ISLES had to go into dock for modifications to her stern.

The ship’s owners were not satisfied with her performance when she was going astern under “light ship” conditions. Sixty tons of ballast was added to bring her further into the water.

CalMac’s last three ferries were built by English yards and the Ferguson-Ailsa yard in Port Glasgow is appealing to the company to award it an offer for a roll-on roll-off for the Oban-Craignure route due to go to contract next month.

Caledonian MacBrayne is to continue with its support of the Royal National Mod for a fifth consecutive year. The Mod is Scotland’s premier Gaelic cultural festival and takes place in Dunoon this year, from 13^th to 21^st October.

CalMac first supported the Mod in Largs in 2002 and, in 2004, won the Brand identity category of the Arts and Business Scotland Awards in partnership with An Comunn Gaidhealach who co-ordinate the organisation of the nine day event.

Many of the company’s employees are Gaelic speakers and regularly participate at the Mod, which was staged in the Western Isles last year.

Several sailings were disrupted during Sunday 12th and Monday 13^th due to adverse weather conditions.

On Sunday the 1200 ex Lochmaddy and 1400 ex Uig were cancelled. All services between Tayinloan – Gigha were cancelled, as were all services from Ardmhor – Eriskay and Tarbert – Portavadie. The 1215 Tarbert – Loch Ranza was cancelled.

The 1800 sailing from Kennacraig to Port Ellen was diverted to Port Askaig. The 0415 sailing to Kennacraig therefore sailed from Port Askaig.

Tobermory – Kilchoan, Berneray – Leverburgh, Tayinloan – Gigha, Fionnphort – Iona, Tarbert – Loch Ranza – Tarbert, 1230 ex Ardmhor and 1410 ex Eriskay.

The Mallaig – Small Isles service should run as follows: Mallaig – Rum – Eigg – Muck – Mallaig. The call at Muck was cancelled.

ISLE OF MULL departed from Oban as per timetable for Colonsay at 1200. She completed the round trip without disruption.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES carried out an extra run on the evening of Tuesday 14^th due to the amount of traffic held up by the extreme weather conditions over the weekend.

Passengers at Port Ellen were required to use the stern ramp when Heb Isles docked at the pier on Wednesday. This is due to maintenance being carried out on the gangway. She was diverted to Port Askaig for the next sailing.

The 1800 sailing to Port Ellen on Sunday 19^th will also be diverted to Port Askaig. This means that the 0415 sailing on Monday will depart from Port Askaig instead of Port Ellen.

In a report from twenty-five years ago the Oban Times Those Were The Days Column tells us that Western Ferries were pulling their high speed vessel HIGHLAND SEABIRD out of Oban during the summer season.

She had proved to be uneconomical due to a rise in fuel costs and a fall-off in the tourist trade.

The decision being made at short notice caused problems for some organisations including the Mull Music Festival, which stated that they would be using the Seabird to carry visitors across to Mull in their advertisements.

HEBRIDES left Liverpool at 1500 on the afternoon of Wednesday 22^nd. She was due to arrive at Uig on Thursday afternoon to take over from CLANSMAN.

LOCH RANZA arrived back at Tayinloan to relieve LOCH RIDDON. She sailed to Campbeltown where she stayed overnight. She then sailed to Lochranza to relieve LOCH TARBERT. LOCH RANZA is now on the Tarbert – Portavadie – Lochranza winter service. LOCH TARBERT remained at Lochranza to be in place for the summer timetable run between Claonaig and Lochranza. The summer timetable starts on March 31^st.

ISLE OF LEWIS was delayed at Stornoway on Saturday 25^th due to bow thrust problems encountered during the night. The 0715 eventually departed at 0915.

CORUISK departed from the Clyde on Sunday 26^th. She was due to stop at Port Askaig for the night on Monday then head up to Mallaig on Tuesday.

The maintenance work at Port Ellen is due for completion on Saturday 1^st April. There is now a raised walkway to the ferry with a ramp instead of steps.

The Glenelg – Kylerhea ferry GLENACHULISH may not sail again unless the community-based bid to buy the ferry can raise £60,000 within three weeks. The Isle of Skye Community Interest Company require a total of £150,000 to keep the ferry going.

Roddy MacLeod has operated the ferry since 1989. He is giving up the business but wants it to remain in local hands. He announced his retirement two years ago but kept the ferry going out of sentiment.

GLENACHULISH is out of the water at the moment but would normally be back in service in time for Easter. She is thirty years old and is the last in a long line of turntable ferries, carrying six cars at a time. Last year she carried 14,000 cars across the Kylerhea Narrows.

Shops, hotels and guesthouses in Glenelg rely on the ferry to bring visitors in to the village of 240 residents.

When the ferry at Stromeferry, on the shore of Loch Carron fifteen miles to the north, closed the village went into near terminal decline even though it was only one mile from an A Class road. The residents of Glenelg fear that their village will go the same way.

Caledonian MacBrayne’s subsidiary company Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited and Lews Castle College, Stornoway, have this week launched an initiative aimed at providing young people living in the Western Isles with new opportunities for employment at sea. The training programme was developed in response to discussions between the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union (RMT), CalMac and Lews Castle College.

Lews Castle College’s motto - “ Muir is Tir”- reflects the maritime tradition of both the College and the Western Isles. College staff have been developing a range of courses over the years to support local people and help them gain the necessary skills to lead to a career in the Merchant Navy.

Young people aged 16-18 are being targeted through the scheme, which will see them employed by CalMac Crewing under the Skillseekers programme.

Lews Castle College also provides sea-survival and other mandatory courses suitable for those looking for employment with CalMac over the summer months.

Details of the job opportunities available with CalMac can be found on the company’s website www.calmac.co.uk. Job opportunities are listed separately for sea-going and shore based staff under the appropriate sites relating to CalMac’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Caledonian MacBrayne HR (UK) Limited and Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited.

Caledonian MacBrayne is once again teaming up with Jolomo, Scotland’s most successful artist, John Lowrie Morrison, and turning their ferry, ISLE OF MULL, into a floating art gallery in conjunction with Kranenburg Fine Art of Oban.

This is the fifth year that the Company has taken the hugely successful visual and musical cruise to Colonsay. This year the event is entitled “ Celebration of Caledonian MacBrayne”.

The opening night of the Celebration will provide the opportunity to cruise, dine and view the Exhibition on board ISLE OF MULL as she cruise between Oban and Colonsay. She will depart from Oban at 1700 returning at 2155.

John will auction one of his paintings on board. He will donate a significant percentage of the proceeds of his sales, as will CalMac and Kranenburg fine Art, to the Princess Royal Trust Argyll Careers Centre.

The Exhibition opens on Friday May 12^th. Tickets are available from CalMac. Price for the dinner and cruise is £40. Tickets for a non-landing cruise cost £16.

Caledonian MacBrayne is reporting a significant increase in advance activity from potential tourists as it launches its spring campaign for 2006. Accommodation bookings through the Internet in the Outer Hebrides are reported to have increased by 80%.

Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair, who will address a seminar on tourism hosted by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in Stornoway on Friday 31st, said that the increase mirrors the trend seen in their own website activity which is up by 30% on last year. In January the website had 672,278 visitors, an increase of 40% on 2005 and in February the website had 606,576 visitors an increase of 20% on 2005.

Although Mr Sinclair admitted that this did not mean an increase in business and revenue it did indicate that their marketing was being effective.

He went on to say that the steady upwards trend in carryings and bookings in the Outer Hebrides was an indication of the effectiveness of CalMac’s marketing campaigns. The remote beauty of the Outer Hebrides is one of CalMac’s key propositions in its spring campaign for 2006.

CalMac’s Direct Mail campaign for 2005 has been nominated in the Direct and Promotional Excellence Category at the Marketing Society’s Marketing Excellence Awards. CalMac will know the outcome of the Awards towards the end of April.

Caledonian MacBrayne launched its 2007 calendar at the seminar in Stornoway today (31/03). This is the earliest time that the Company has had the calendar available for sale to their customers and the general public. The calendar is filled with excellent pictures of the area covered by CalMac’s thirty ships and twenty-six routes.

The calendars, priced at £4.95, are available from CalMac through the website (www.calmac.co.uk) or from ships and terminals.

Caledonian MacBrayne has had its commitment to the environment and good working practices recognised by being accredited to the internationally recognised Environmental Management System (EMS) standard ISO 14001.

Assurance for minimising environmental risks, meeting legislation requirements and demonstrating corporate governance through the implementation of an effective Environment Management System. This is a considerable achievement for the Company.

In preparing for the independent assessment process for ISO 14001, CalMac had to demonstrate improved management of environmental risks throughout its operation. CalMac has now been accredited with ISO 9001 and the ISM Code, along with ISO 14001.

ISO 14000 is the generic name given to the family of standards around which an EMS can be implemented. The ISO Standard development committee TC 207 started to develop the ISO 14001 series including ISO 14001 in 1994 and this was published in September 1996.

Since its publication ISO 14001 has been adopted by over 36,000 organisations both large and small in eighty-six countries. The standard was revised in 2004 to become ISO 14001:2004.

The March meeting of the Club took place on Friday 31^st. The Club President, Duncan Wilson, opened the meeting by asking those present to be upstanding for a minute’s silence in memory of Hamish Stewart.

A good turnout heard an excellent presentation by Past President Graeme Dunlop entitled “ CalMac-the early years”.

Graeme opened his talk by explaining how Caledonian MacBrayne was formed, under the umbrella of the Scottish Transport Group, and came into being on January 1^st 1973.

His talk covered the seven years from 1973 to 1980. During this time new ships were introduced into service (JUPITER, JUNO, SATURN, PIONEER, CLAYMORE, IONA, SUILVEN and the island class ferries) while others were converted or rebuilt (ARRAN, MAID OF CUMBRAE and CLANSMAN).

The age of the turbines drew to a close with the withdrawal of KING GEORGE V and QUEEN MARY from service at the end of the 1974 and 1977 seasons.

The paddle steamer WAVERLEY was sold for £1.00 to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society in August 1974.

CalMac’s cruise ship was to be GLEN SANNOX, which would revert to car ferry duties during the winter season.

Throughout the Clyde and Western Isles ports and piers were re-built with linkspans and new passenger terminals.

As a result of this investment many ships were withdrawn from service, the most significant being the ABC ferries, ARRAN, BUTE and COWAL, CLAYMORE (1955), LOCH SEAFORTH, which sunk at Tiree, and the last surviving cargo ship, LOCH CARRON.

The 70s were, without doubt, a period of great change. The shipping services among the Clyde and Western Isles improved beyond measure. Graeme, whose research into his subject was meticulous and a superb selection of over 250 slides, which rounded off an excellent evenings entertainment, brought these improvements to life.

Eric Schofield added his own recollections of travelling among the islands when giving the vote of thanks.

The main news, at the moment, is CalMac’s intention to open a Sunday service on the Sound of Harris route. This is likely to start on Sunday April 9^th. The move has upset the people of Harris and Lewis who fear that their traditional way of life will be lost.

The islanders are strong believers in maintaining the Sabbath as a day of rest. This is in conflict with the views of those who live on the Uists, Benbecula and Barra where Sunday sailings have operated for many years.

The new Sunday service is likely to be the thin end of the wedge with sailings opening between Stornoway and Ullapool and between Tarbert (Harris) and Uig. Airline services have operated from Stornoway Airport on Sundays since September 2002 however it is easier to blockade a port or pier than it is to blockade a runway.

The next meeting, which is the AGM, takes place on Friday April 28^th. After the evening’s business is completed, Robin Boyd will give a slide presentation on SAINT COLUMBA. The meeting starts at 1930 prompt in the Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow.