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| March 2007 news The Fionnphort – Iona (LOCH BUIE) service was disrupted for technical reasons today (02/03). Sailings resumed with the 1800 from Fionnphort.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne www.calmac.co.uk
LOCH FYNE departed from the James Watt Dock today at 1111. She will pick up crew’s cars at Gourock or Largs before heading to Campbelltown for an over-night stay. Tomorrow she will head up to the Sound of Mull to resume service on the Fishnish – Lochaline route.
Source: Clydesite-Graham Wilson.
02/03/07.
The replacement to the Northern Lighthouse Board’s ship PHAROS is due to arrive in Oban soon.
Also named PHAROS, the new ship has been built in Gdansk, Poland, where she is undergoing sea trials at the moment. Crew are going through training.
A Northern Lighthouse Board spokesman said the new PHAROS, the tenth ship to bear the name, would be arriving “imminently”.
Her first port of call after leaving Poland will be Oban where crew will carry out further training before she is brought into use.
She is broader and longer than her predecessor and equipped to the highest standard.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 1st March. www.obantimes.co.uk
The owner of Muck is calling for another boat to replace the present ferry, which he says has difficulty docking in bad weather.
Lawrence MacEwen said in the two months since November 10th last year LOCHNEVIS, which serves the Small Isles from Mallaig has missed calling at Muck eleven times out of a possible twenty-four because of difficulties docking at Port Mor, creating havoc with travel plans and severely discouraging anyone from visiting the island.
He believes it might be better if SHEARWATER, which sails out of Arisaig in the summer, became Muck’s year-round ferry.
“Because there is no keel aft, LOCHNEVIS is difficult to control in a heavy beam swell” he said. “If she had a keel she could not dock at the slipways when the tide is in.”
Caledonian MacBrayne, which operates LOCHNEVIS, says it was forced to accept the current situation.
Hugh Dan MacLennan, spokesman for CalMac, said: “This is a situation which was inevitable. The choice of Port Mor as the landing site was one forced on CalMac by the community and Highland Council, which accepted the decision.
CalMac was always in favour of an alternative at Gallenach.
We will continue to offer the best possible service in the circumstances and we do not accept the criticism of the ship or her suitability.
She has been purpose built for the Small Isles”.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 1st.
Caledonian MacBrayne is preparing to discuss its second harbour order in Lochaber in as many weeks, this time with members of Kilchoan community on the Ardnamurchan Peninsular.
Last week, CalMac met with the Lochaline community to discuss a similar harbour order.
West Ardnamurchan Community Council has invited representatives from CalMac and Highland Council to a meeting at the old Glenborrodale School on Monday evening at 20.00 to discuss the Kilchoan harbour order.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 1st.
The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry EIGG, which sails between Oban and Achnacroish on Lismore, is to be off the route from March 3rd for seventeen days.
Residents are advised that no high loads will be carried. This affects farmers who may need hay during this time.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 1st.
Island farmers are to ask the Transport Minister for more “flexibility” in the ferry tendering process after Caledonian MacBrayne said it had no leeway.
The National Farmers Union of Scotland (NFUS) Argyll and the Islands regional manager Lisa Webb and representatives from Mull, Gigha and Bute met with CalMac in Tarbert to discuss transport issues.
Ms Webb said it was a constructive meeting with CalMac outlining how it has to press ahead with the controversial tendering for the west coast routes.
She said: “They still have to go through the whole process and there is not much leeway.
When it is a busy time or a need arises for an extra sailing, say at sale times, they put on an extra boat for Tiree on cattle sale days when a lot of stock needs to get taken off the island. They have included sale dates in their tender.
But if the sale is on a different date then it is something they can’t legislate for in the tender”.
The farmers will now write to Transport Minister, Tavish Scott, asking for flexibility should extra boats be required.
The NFUS representatives and CalMac also discussed having locally sourced food and drink such as milk and cheese available to buy on ferries.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 1st.
Businesses on the islands of Mull, Iona and Arran have voiced serious concerns as coach holiday companies have cancelled tours of the islands from next year.
The companies say that new EU legislation on drivers’ rest periods and a revised fares policy by Caledonian MacBrayne means such holidays are no longer viable.
Ken Thorburn, chairman of the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee, which represents businesses on the island, said he hoped to meet CalMac in the near future to find a solution.
Sandy Brunton, chairman of Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce, said they expected a definite reduction in visitors because of the fares structure.
He said: “ It is hard to make a living on the island without all this and it is getting harder and harder.”
CalMac regional manager for Argyll, Ian Fox said the new fares structure was introduced in February last year on the Oban to Craignure route and they had unprecedented growth.
The structure is there to help operators. With a full coach an operator ends up paying less.
Hugh Dan MacLennan said the revised fares were announced after consultation with WA Shearings, Highland Heritage and Lochs and Glens, none of whom had a problem with minimum pricing and had actually filled their vehicles.
He said: “ CalMac Ferries Limited has a duty to to optimise its revenue recovery to minimise its dependency on the deficit/grant subsidy.
Caledonian MacBrayne is not responsible for the economic/tourist growth of the islands. It is an operator of lifeline/contract ferry services and only one factor in a very complex web of interlinked factors”.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 1st. www.obantimes.co.uk
More than two-thirds of the workforce of one of the UK’s last commercial shipbuilding yards are to be made redundant.
A total of seventy-five staff at Ferguson’s Shipbuilders will lose their jobs, with only thirty employees remaining on the site at Port Glasgow.
Union leaders called on the Scottish Executive to place an order for a £14m fisheries protection vessel to protect the yard. They said ministers should award the contract to the firm or take the blame for the possible closure of the yard in the future.
The shipyard has suffered a number of setbacks in recent years and was threatened with closure in 2005 when it lost out on a bid to a yard in Gdansk, Poland. A few months later, Ferguson’s beat competition for a £5.8m ferry order from Caledonian MacBrayne.
It also put in a bid for a contract to build a multi-million pound fisheries protection vessel, but in early 2006 Appledore in Devon emerged as the preferred bidder.
Source: The Herald, Saturday 3rd. www.theherald.co.uk
04/03/07.
On Thursday 1st sailings between Oban and Craignure were disrupted after a wire rope became tangled around ISLE OF MULL’s propeller. She missed the 08.00 service and return. The 10.00 service was also disrupted. The rope was cleared by 09.45. The 10.00 run was disrupted due to problems with the anchor. LORD OF THE ISLES carried out a relief sailing.
HEBRIDEAN ISLES ran late due to heavy traffic also on Thursday.
LOCH FYNE departed from Campbeltown at 08.00 on Saturday 3rd and sailed up to Lochaline to resume her roster.
Strong winds swept across the Western Isles on Sunday causing cancellations to some sailings and disrupting others. Some of the cancellations meant that return journeys on Monday were also cancelled.
HEBRIDEAN ISLES left Kennacraig at 14.15 on Monday but turned back due to the stormy conditions. The 18.00 sailing to Port Ellen was cancelled. The Islay route faced further disruptions on Tuesday due to the volume of traffic.
All Islay sailings will face more disruptions on Thursday 8th due to tidal conditions. Delays of up to two hours are expected.
Due to tidal restrictions on the Sound of Harris route, an amended timetable will operate on Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st.
The 11.10 ex Berneray and 12.20 ex Leverburgh are cancelled. The ferry will now depart from Berneray at 09.45 and Leverburgh at 10.55.
Caledonian MacBrayne are advising customers that some connecting train services from Oban may be disrupted due to industrial action between 12.00 on Wednesday 7th and 12.00 on Friday 9th. Customers who are intending to travel from Glasgow to Oban with onward journeys to the islands are advised to check with First Scotrail before travelling. www.firstgroup.com/scotrail
ISLE OF CUMBRAE is moored at the North Pier, Oban having relinquished her duties at Lochaline.
The Argyll and Bute Council ferry, EILEAN DHIURA, is at Rothesay Pier having completed her overhaul at Ardmaleish.
LORD OF THE ISLES was launched from Appledore Ferguson Shipbuilders on Tuesday 7th March 1989. Her Yard No was 573.
She is the last ship in the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet to have sleeping accommodation in eighteen two-berth cabins. Affectionately known as LOTI, she can carry fifty-four cars and 506 passengers. She has a service speed of sixteen knots.
LOTI entered service on 22nd May 1989 and was an immediate success. Sailing from Oban, sometimes through the night, she served the islands of Barra, South Uist, Coll and Tiree.
Although used as the spare Oban vessel for much of the time, LORD OF THE ISLES remains a popular and successful ship.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne/Clydesite
Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
07/03/07.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator CalMac Ferries Ltd and the asset owning company Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) have moved to allay concerns that a Harbour Order revision/empowerment programme currently being conducted could have a detrimental affect of potential developments at west coast facilities.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne will be visiting Islay in a fortnight’s time to discuss details of the new vessel, which will be constructed for the Kennacraig to Islay route from 2010.
"Putting Caledonian MacBrayne ferry services out to tender cost the Executive £15 million, as a result of the company restructuring and tax liabilities incurred. But as state-owned CalMac was the only bidder, this was money down the proverbial drain. The £15 million might sound tiny in government terms, but it is £3 wasted for every man, woman and child in Scotland.
"To make matters worse, the Executive had no overriding need to go to tender. In theory, not tendering might have been in breach of EU competition law. But in practice, Brussels has always been loath to insist on compliance in remote communities, and any fine would probably have been less than the £15 million. In truth, Executive ministers were just spineless when it came to standing up for Scottish interests in the EU. "This episode raises once again the issue of why the Executive wants to own its own ferry service. There is a strong case for public subsidy to ensure that vital ferry services are maintained to the islands. But that is different from the state owning CalMac, which makes it impossible to create a level playing field for private ferry operators and so leads to monopoly and inefficiency. "The Executive must use this sorry affair to rethink its model of how to ensure affordable, reliable ferry services to our island communities." Source: Clydesite-John Newth/ The Scotsman Editorial Comment.
MV CLAYMORE was launched on Thursday 10th March 1955 from the Dumbarton yard of William Denny & Brothers Ltd. Her Yard No was 1482.
This is the first time since the new company was formed in 1928 that a ship built for the MacBrayne fleet (apart from the small craft) had received a name other than a “Loch”.
Ordered in accordance with the mail contract of 1952, CLAYMORE was a great advance on her predecessor LOCHEARN. With a gross tonnage of 1,024, she was the second largest ship in the fleet. Her twin screws, driven by engines supplied by the builder, drove her along at 12 ½ knots.
CLAYMORE was a handsome, well-proportioned ship with a light steel tripod mast erected above the bridge and a light mainmast aft. Near the bow she had a Samson post supporting a 7 ½ ton derrick She had a domed funnel with vertical vents on the front. Three lifeboats were carried, two on the starboard and one on the port side. One was motor driven.
Aids to navigation including Radar, Decca Navigation Position Plotter, Echo Sounder and Wireless Telegraphy were fitted during construction.
The ship could carry 494 passengers with sleeping accommodation for 56 as opposed to 22 on LOCHEARN. She also had space for 100 tons of cargo, 11 cars and 26 head of cattle.
CLAYMORE served Tobermory, Coll, Tiree, Castlebay and Lochboisdale three days a week in each direction, a route with which she was associated for most of her working life. In addition she gave short cruises from Oban on certain summer afternoons. During the summer of 1955 these were usually to the Isles of the Sea on Thursdays and to Salen (Mull) on Saturdays in support of LOCHINVAR on the Sound of Mull route. Other cruise destinations included Colonsay and Fort William.
With the appearance of IONA on the Ullapool-Stornoway route in May 1972, LOCH SEAFORTH was cascaded to Oban, replacing CLAYMORE on the Isles run. Although an older vessel (1947), LOCH SEAFORTH could carry more passengers, cars and cargo. CLAYMORE was laid up in Greenock, temporarily as events turned out.
During the winter of 1973 LOCH SEAFORTH was on the route from Oban to Coll, Tiree, Barra and Lochboisdale. In March her career came to an abrupt end when she struck a rock in the Sound of Gunna between Coll and Tiree. She was towed to Scarinish Pier, Tiree where she sank, preventing any other ships from berthing. CLAYMORE was quickly reactivated and returned to the island route using a flit boat at Tiree until LOCH SEAFORTH could be lifted from the pier and taken to Troon where she was scraped. The cargo ship LOCH DUNVEGAN assisted that summer by carrying cars to Tiree, as CLAYMORE did not have the capacity to carry the booked cars.
In 1974 further vessels were cascaded in quick succession. A rebuilt CLANSMAN, having replaced IONA on the Stornoway run, was in turn replaced by SUILVEN. CLANSMAN moved down to Oban taking over from GLEN SANNOX on the Craignure run. She returned to the Clyde having made only a brief appearance at Oban. During the summer of 1974 IONA served Barra and Lochboisdale leaving CLAYMORE to serve Coll and Tiree. The following winter she included the latter islands in her roster allowing CLAYMORE to be withdrawn from service at last.
In 1976 our illustrious ship sailed away to Greece where she was renamed CITY OF HYDRA. She ended her career in 2000 when she sank at her moorings at Eleusis.
CLAYMORE is featured on the April page of the 2007 Club Calendar. She is portrayed at Colonsay Pier on 24th June 1973 in a photo taken by Lawrence MacDuff.
Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers
Ian McCrorie-Royal Road to the Isles.
First Minister Jack McConnell pledged, on a recent visit to the Western Isles, that up to a 40% discount would be offered to residents on islands with a ferry link to the mainland – passengers only – with other discount arrangements to be introduced for cars and freight.
Islanders and students studying on the mainland but whose home is on an island would have to register and receive a card and PIN number to be used when booking travel.
This pledge has, however, produced a cynical reaction. Argyll and Bute Councillor Ian Gillies, who represents Tiree and Coll, welcomed the news but said: “No-one will be deluded that it is anything but part of an election manifesto, but it is excellent news”.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 8th. www.obantimes.co.uk
The A830 Fort William to Mallaig road, which has long been a source of frustration for lorries, tourists and those travelling to the Small Isles and Armadale on Skye, will soon be two-way all the way between the two towns.
The road is famous, both locally and nationally for its single-track status.
Work will begin in June to widen the final stretch of single track, which runs from Arisaig to Loch nan Uamh. Contractors Morrison Construction hope to complete the road by November 2008.
The construction cost of upgrading the road, which has been on going for several years, has cost the Scottish Executive £22million so far. Much of this has been aided by the European Regional Development Fund.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 8th.
There is a glimmer of hope on the horizon for Ferguson’s Shipyard in Port Glasgow after learning that bidding for a Scottish fisheries protection ship is to be opened within three months.
After announcing that Ferguson’s were making seventy-five workers redundant First Minister Jack McConnell responded by putting the Scottish Executive order out to tender within the ninety days of their redundancy notices.
The tendering process was halted after it was found that European competition rules might have been broken.
There is no guarantee that Ferguson’s will win the order against other shipbuilders on the Baltic and the south of England.
The First Minister has told MSPs that Scottish Enterprise, the economic development agency, has become involved to help Ferguson’s prepare a competitive bid and also to encourage the yard to diversify into other lines of work.
Source: The Herald, Friday 9th www.theherald.co.uk
The Mallaig BoatBuilding & Engineering Co is being sold.
John Henderson, who also has interests in a number of fishing vessels and who also upgraded the former Manx registered St Kilda vessel CUMA prior to sale to Lewis interests, is to sell to Fort William businessman Finlay Finlayson.
Finlayson, of Crannog Restaurant fame, operates the Poole built pleasure boat SOUTAR’S LASS.
Mallaig BB&E, though principally into the repair of fishing vessels, has also built ships from scratch.
The most notable vessel to be built was WAVE for MacEwen’s of Muck in 1955. It is a great testament to Henderson’s that she has given over fifty years service in a very challenging environment – flitting to the steamers, connecting with others at Eigg and running into Arisaig, Glenuig, Tobermory, Leverburgh and Oban with serious cargos of sheep, building materials, diesel and hay.
Source: Scotships-Steven Watson/Westword.
The cruise ship HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS will be calling at the following ports of the Western Isles during the month of April:
Oban 5th, 12th, 19th, 25th a 08.00 d 19.00, Eigg 1st, 9th, 17th, 28th, Iona 2nd, 23rd, Tobermory 3rd, 10th, 18th, Rum 6th, 13th, 26th, Portree 7th, 16th, Gairloch 8th, 14th, 27th, Craignure 11th, Ullapool 15th, Caobh Haven 20th, Jura 21st, Colonsay 22nd, Kilchoan 24th, Port Ellen 30th.
VAN GOGH will be calling at Ullapool on April 9th and 18th a 13.30 d 23.00.
Source: Ships Monthly. www.shipsmonthly.com
Ullapool – Stornoway sailings were delayed by thirty-five minutes due to the weather on Thursday 8th. Services on the Sound of Harris route were also disrupted due to tidal conditions.
EIGG, which is at Corpach for overhaul, has been relieved by RAASAY. ISLE OF CUMBRAE is back on the Clyde. CLANSMAN departed from Birkenhead on the morning of Friday 9th. She is sailing straight to Uig where she will relieve HEBRIDES, which will sail down to Greenock for her overhaul. ISLE OF ARRAN moved out of the Garvel dry-dock and into the James Watt Dock on Friday morning but may re-enter the dry-dock possibly with HEBRIDES on Monday 12th.
The Tayinloan – Gigha service is facing disruptions due to tidal conditions combined with vegetation and sand covering the slipway.
On Sunday 11th the following timetable will operate:
Dep Tayinloan 08.00, 09.00, 10.00.
Dep Gigha 07.35, 08.30, 09.30.
The service will then be suspended for the rest of the day. Normal service will resume on Monday, conditions permitting.
The Ullapool- Stornoway is facing delays of twenty-three minutes today (10/03) due to the weather.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac/ Scotships-Walter Bowie.
10/03/07.
ISLE OF ARRAN was towed by two small tugs from her berth in the James Watt Dock this afternoon (11/03) and then she was immediately back into the Garvel Dry-dock at around 15.00.
About an hour later she was joined by HEBRIDES, which had earlier in the afternoon been at Gourock for an hour or so.
Despite the rain the fairly unusual site of two large ferries belonging to the same fleet entering the dry-dock around the same time had attracted a small group of the paparazzi, which had descended on the walkway behind the Point Restaurant. Since it was Sunday it would have been easier for these ferry enthusiasts to be there unlike a weekday when they would have been at work.
LOCH PORTAIN is still in the JWD looking quite clean and tidy.
Source: Scotships-Walter Bowie.
The future of GLENACHULISH, the last working turntable ferry in the world, is now secure thanks to a £150,000 investment from a local community group and a £60,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.
The ferry will continue to ply the route from Glenelg on the mainland to Kylerhea on Skye.
The future of the service was placed in doubt three years ago after the previous owner, Roddy MacLeod, announced his retirement.
GLENACHULISH carry six cars on its rotating platform. The route, which it takes, is only 600 yards across and is the shortest gap between Skye and the mainland. A ferry has been in use at this point since the early seventeenth century.
The ferry will cross every fifteen minutes at peak times and every thirty minutes, off peak from April 2nd to early October.
Cars with up to four passengers are charged £8.50 for a single journey and £15.00 for a return. Foot passengers pay £1.50 return. www.skyeferry.co.uk
Source: The Sunday Post, Sunday 11th.
13/03/07.
The huge MERSEY MAMMOTH has been in Oban as part of the terminal developments. She has lifted the new linkspan onto its hinge point adjacent to the terminal building. The blue linkspan is very similar to that Dunoon, however instead of an overhead gantry and vertical hydraulics, this one would appear to be adjusted with steel cables in the same way as the now 30+ year old one just a few yards away. There is still a lot of work required to finish what is currently supposed to be the overnight ferry berth in time for the start of the summer timetable at the end of this month.
LOCH PORTAIN left the James Watt Dock on Tuesday 13th for trials. Having successfully completed her trials, she berthed at the Gourock wires.
The 13.00 sailing ex Craignure and the 14.00 ex Oban were cancelled due to the weather on Thursday 15th. The official report stated that the weather was too severe to sail yet several reports to Ships of CalMac (www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk) claimed that the weather had not deteriorated at all.
The 23.30 freight sailing by MUIRNEAG ex Stornoway was cancelled, as was the return journey from Ullapool again due to the weather. The daytime sailings by ISLE OF LEWIS were running late due to the volume of traffic.
LOCH PORTAIN sailed from Gourock this morning (16/03) en route for the Sound of Harris. She called at Largs to collect crew’s cars before sailing to Campbeltown where she will stay overnight.
The call at Muck and 2nd call at Eigg were cancelled today due to the weather. The Ullapool – Stornoway service ran 1 hour 6 mins late, again, due to the weather. The stormy weather conditions are expected to continue over the weekend.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne www.calmac.co.uk
The car ferry LOCH DUNVEGAN was launched on Friday 15th March 1991 from the Port Glasgow yard of Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd where her Yard No was 601.
She entered service on the Kyle of Lochalsh – Kyleakin service on 13th May with a capability of carrying 250 passengers and thirty-six cars. She is powered by two Voith Schneider propellers.
On 16th October 1995 the Skye Bridge opened and LOCH DUNVEGAN was taken out of service and was laid up in the James Watt Dock, Greenock where she was put on the sale list. She was moved to Troon for dry-docking following a possible sale to West African interests, something which eventually fell through.
LOCH DUNVEGAN was reactivated on 18th August 1997 following the breakdown of another ferry, LOCH ALAINN, which operated on the Fishnish – Lochaline route.
For several months during 1998 she provided cover on various routes including Wemyss Bay – Rothesay where she had a passenger only certificate, Mallaig – Armadale for two weeks and Portavadie – Tarbert when the main Kintyre road was closed due to a landslide.
On 31st March 1999 she became the dedicated ferry on the Colintraive – Rhubodach route following the construction of a dolphin, which allowed the vessel to berth for the night at the end of her duties.
LOCH DUNVEGAN is pictured, approaching Rhubodach, on the November page of the 2007 Club Calendar with LOCHNEVIS in the background at Colintraive. Gordon Law recorded the unusual meeting, in the Kyles of Bute, on 22nd September 2000.
Source: Clydesite/Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
16/03/07.
LOCH PORTAIN arrived at Oban en route to the Sound of Harris at approximately 15.30 on Saturday 17th.
Source: Clydesite-Ronnie MacNeill.
Due to the stormy weather conditions, which have swept over the Western Isles over the weekend, a number of ferry services have been disrupted or cancelled.
Saturday 17th
Barra – Eriskay (LOCH TARBERT) The 14.10 ex Eriskay sailed early at 13.50. The 17.10 ex Barra and the 18.15 ex Eriskay were cancelled.
Uig – Tarbert, Harris (CLANSMAN) cancelled.
Ullapool – Stornoway (ISLE OF LEWIS) cancelled.
Sunday 18th
Lochaline – Fishnish (LOCH FYNE) Sailed ex Lochaline at 15.00 and 16.00. .
Returned ex Fishnish at 15.30 and 16.25.
Oban – Lochboisdale/Castlebay – Oban (LORD OF THE ISLES) cancelled. Next sailing ex Oban 15.30 Tuesday 20th.
Uig – Lochmaddy (CLANSMAN) 12.00 ex Lochmaddy and 14.00 return from Uig cancelled.
Barra – Eriskay (LOCH TARBERT) cancelled. Next sailing Monday 19th at 07.15 ex Barra and 08.20 ex Eriskay.
Oban – Craignure (ISLE OF MULL) cancelled. Next sailing Monday 19th ex Oban at 07.00 weather permitting.
Ullapool – Stornoway (ISLE OF LEWIS) sailed at 12.00.
The Monday 19th overnight Ullapool – Stornoway freight service (MUIRNEAG), which departs at 00.30, was cancelled today at 12.31.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne www.calmac.co.uk
18/03/07.
Although strong winds continued to sweep across the Western Isles, the majority of ferries managed to sail according to schedule.
The following sailings were disrupted or cancelled today (19/03) due to the inclement weather conditions:
Uig – Tarbert (CLANSMAN). Disrupted but managed to run a limited service.
Uig – Lochmaddy (CLANSMAN). Cancelled. Unscheduled sailing Tuesday 20th ex Uig at 05.30.
Fionnphort – Iona (LOCH BUIE). 16.15 ex Fionnphort and 16.30 ex Iona last sailings of the day.
Kennacraig – Port Ellen (HEBRIDEAN ISLES) 18.00 ex Kennacraig cancelled also 04.15 return. Service will resume 07.00 Tuesday 20th.
Sound of Harris (LOCH BHRUSDA). All sailings cancelled.
Sound of Barra. (LOCH TARBERT). All sailings cancelled.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne www.calmac.co.uk
19/03/07.
CalMac Ferries Ltd (CalMac) has reacted quickly to amend timetable schedules for its Islay services following the disclosure by Argyll & Bute Council that the pier at Port Askaig will not be available until April 20th. Works at the pier were to be sufficiently advanced to allow ferry operations to resume at the start of the summer timetable on 30th March 2007.
In response to the increasing demand for vehicular space on the ferry, CalMac had previously introduced one additional return sailing each week for the remainder of the winter timetable. The Company had also been due to announce the extension of the peak summer, two-vessel service, to cover the entire summer timetable period. An emergency timetable will now be put in place until the full-published schedule can start on completion of the pier works at Port Askaig.
Operations Director Phil Preston said: “It is a matter of concern that CalMac and our customers cannot get the full benefit of our proposed enhanced summer service to Islay using both MV HEBRIDEAN ISLES and MV ISLE OF ARRAN. A key priority, however, is to provide the important inter-island link between Islay and Colonsay on a Wednesday. Having the two ships available will allow us to achieve this, albeit via Port Ellen. This will add about an hour and a half to the journey, but it is important that the link is maintained.”
Amended sailing times will be issued as soon as possible and customers should check CalMac’s web site www.calmac.co,uk for details. CalMac will also publish notices in terminals and on ships. Timings of specific sailings will also be available on CalMac’s SMS text service. Full details of this are also to be found at www.calmac.co.uk
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne.
The Oban – Lochboisdale/Castlebay – Oban service departed from Oban today (20/03) at 15.30 sailing first to Lochboisdale (due to low tides at Lochboisdale) arriving at 20.50. Depart Lochboisdale 21.05. Arrive Castlebay 22.55.
Wednesday 21st Depart Castlebay 09.35 Arrive Oban 14.55. Any traffic for Lochboisdale to Oban on Wednesday 21st are advised to contact the Lochboisdale office on 01878 700288.
Due to very low tides on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st the 11.10 ex Berneray and the 12.20 ex Leverburgh are cancelled. The ferry will sail at 09.45 ex Berneray and 10.55 ex Leverburgh instead.
The Ullapool – Stornoway freight service is cancelled due to weather conditions today.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne.
DEMV LOCHFYNE was launched on Friday 20th March 1931. She was built by William Denny & Brothers, Dumbarton, Yard No 1256.
After fitting out she commenced her trials on Monday 25th May and was handed over to David MacBrayne on Thursday 28th May. She memorably spent several days lying at the Broomielaw in the company of GLENCOE, the oldest member of the fleet.
LOCHFYNE was the last of the four new ships built under the 1928 agreement when the old company did not bid for the Mail contract and was taken over by Coast Lines and the London Midland Scottish Railway. From the very first she had aroused an immense amount of interest among the travelling public. The explanation of all this lies in the fact that she is the first British passenger vessel to have the propellers driven by direct-coupled electric motors, which receive their energy from generators deriving their power from diesel engines. In effect she is a “Diesel-electric ship”.
Another innovation is the control of the propelling motors, which can either be done in the engine room or on the bridge.
That she was not as successful as her owners had hoped in no way denigrates the idea. Rather, her problems lay in other areas. One was the obvious problem of initial cost. While the running costs were significantly lower than those of a steam vessel the cost of the installation most certainly was not. The cost of her engines, generators and other electrical equipment seemed to put the new owners off and it is significant that after LOCHNEVIS was delivered, new vessels reverted to plain old motor ships.
While costs may have been the significant factor on the management’s mind the main problems facing passengers were vibration and noise. While her machinery may have been vibration free when being tested on the shore works, that was manifestly not the position when they were fitted and the vessel got under way! Quite simply everything moved! No matter where a passenger was on the ship they could not escape the constant vibration reaching up from the deck into their person. Sitting down was no better and eating a meal was appositive art form of devouring the food while stopping it from dancing off the table complete with cutlery, condiments and anything else that got in the way. If nailed down it moved, if not it moved further!
If the vibration was not enough to get used to, it was accompanied by an ear-splitting roar from the diesels for which there was no adequate preparation and from which there was no escape. After the delights of COLUMBA and IONA the new vessel must have seemed like a crazed monster!
In 1953 she was re-fitted with British Polar engines and in the winter of 1965-66 she had a very extensive overhaul, which included renewal of a considerable amount of her electrical equipment.
At full speed LOCHFYNE travelled at 16 ½ knots. She had a gross tonnage of 748, a straight stem with a slight rake, a cruiser stern and two funnels, the forward one being a dummy.
She sailed to Oban on Saturday 6th June and received a civic welcome with flags flying and signal rockets exploding. She entered service on Monday 8th on what was to be a dual purpose role viz. First Class only to Staff and Iona during the summer and dual class on the Ardrishaig Mail Service during the winter. She continued as such until 1936 when she was replaced in the summer by the newly acquired KING GEORGE V on the Iona service. She transferred to the Fort William and short cruise roster and stayed as such until July 1939.
During the conflict she was employed on the Ardrishaig Mail Service, now operating from Wemyss Bay, on a year round basis. In 1946 she returned to the role of Iona vessel combined with sailings to Fort William and short cruises during the summer months, replacing KING GEORGE V, which in turn was on the Ardrishaig service as SAINT COLUMBA was still under Navy command. From 1947, upon KING GEORGE V ‘s return, she became the Fort William vessel several days a week with excursions to Islay, Tobermory and Loch Sunart to make up her week. In winter she continued with the Ardrishaig service but now from Gourock.
LOCHFYNE did wander elsewhere at times. Immediately after the war she regularly relieved on the Mallaig – Kyle – Portree service to allow LOCHNEVIS time off for overhaul.
The last phase of her operating life began in 1959 when she transferred to the Clyde all year round, taking the Ardrishaig service, which terminated at Tarbert in winter. Such was the decline in traffic on what had been MacBrayne’s premier route that SAINT COLUMBA had become totally uneconomic to operate and had been withdrawn at the end of the 1958 season.
Sadly the continuing decline in traffic on the Ardrishaig route coupled with MacBrayne and The Caledonian Steam Packet Company being joined under the Scottish Transport Group made her position economically precarious and she was withdrawn from service on Tuesday 30th September 1969.
LOCHFYNE arrived at Dalmuir for scrapping on 25th March 1974 and was no more by the end of April.
Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers
Derek Crawford-LOCHFYNE “FORGOTTEN HERO”, WHSC Newsletter No 74.
20/03/07.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
CalMac Ferries Limited (CalMac) is the first national transport operator to launch a fully detailed Gaelic Plan which spells out its commitment to the language and ways in which the company will translate that support into meaningful action.
21/03/07.
Work on Port Askaig Pier will be delayed by a further twenty days forcing Caledonian MacBrayne to amend sailing times to and from the island.
Argyll and Bute Council, which owns the pier, has blamed the recent bad weather. Improvements to the pier were to take six weeks and were to include a new linkspan and new inner and outer harbours. But, in December, the existing linkspan failed a structural inspection meaning the completion date was put back to March 30th, the beginning of CalMac’s summer timetable. This latest delay has pushed the completion date back to April 20th.
CalMac has cited the Colonsay route as a priority in the timetable change.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 22nd.
J & G Thomson, Govan launched PS IONA on Thursday 22nd March 1855. She was built for David Hutcheson & Company. Her Yard No was 19.
She attained immediate success on the Ardrishaig summer run and, had the American Civil War not intervened, it is probable that her career would have been a long one.
She was sold, for a very profitable price, at the end of her eighth season, and on 2nd October 1862, departed from Glasgow for Nassau. She was in Gourock Bay when she was struck by SS CHANTICLEER and sank stern first in deep water in twenty minutes, fortunately without loss of life.
Source: Clydesite/Duchworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.
MV BRUERNISH was launched from the Port Glasgow yard of James Lamont & Company on Thursday 22nd March 1973. Her Yard No was 420.
She was the third of the Island Class type of vessel, the first two being KILBRANNAN and MORVERN. BRUERNISH and the subsequent members of the Class were slightly bigger than the first two. She could carry six cars and 121 passengers.
BRUERNISH entered service on 19th May on the Fishnish – Lochaline route. She served on various routes as required but in 1979 she became the dedicated vessel on the Gigha route. LOCH RANZA replaced her in 1992 when she, once again, became spare vessel.
One of her more interesting spells of employment was when she was on charter from Kyleakin to the Howard-Doris oil platform, which at the time, lay in Loch Kishorn.
BRUERNISH was sold on 25th September 2006 for further service from the west coast of Ireland where she is still in service.
Source: Clydesite/Ships of CalMac/Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
The last of the Island Class of vessels, RAASAY, was launched from the same yard, James Lamont & Company, on Thursday 23rd March 1976. Her Yard No was 425.
She entered service on the Largs – Cumbrae roster on April 30th but soon sailed away to serve the Island of Raasay from Sconser on Skye.
In the years when she was the dedicated Raasay ferry she never deviated from her route and never missed a full day’s service.
On 28th July 1997 the Loch Class vessel LOCH STRIVEN took over the service and RAASAY became spare vessel. She is still in service with Caledonian MacBrayne.
Source: Clydesite/Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
SS HEBRIDES was launched on Thursday 24th March 1898. She was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon for John McCallum & Company. Her Yard No was 70.
She was fitted with triple-expansion machinery, which drove a single propeller. Her trial speed was 12.8 knots. She received a new boiler with three coal-fired furnaces in February 1937.
Although she was employed to carry cargo and passengers from Glasgow to the West Highlands, HEBRIDES was also a popular ship for cruising being employed on extended summer trips to St Kilda.
She passed into the fleet of McCallum, Orme & Company on 1st July 1929 and to David MacBrayne, Ltd on 1st January 1948 having been on charter to the latter for a time during the Second World War sailing between Oban and Tiree.
Towards the end of her career she carried cargo and livestock only continuing on her old route from Glasgow on alternate runs with LOCH FRISA. After the commissioning of LOCH ARD in 1955 HEBRIDES was, on 1st August, taken to Smith & Company, Port Glasgow and scrapped.
Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.
LOCH PORTAIN departed from Oban on the morning of Monday 19th and tied up at Tobermory where she remained until Wednesday 21st. On Wednesday she sailed for Berneray where she relieved LOCH BHRUSDA. She, in turn, sailed for Barra where she relieved LOCH TARBERT allowing her to return to the Clyde where she will resume her summer roster on the Lochranza – Claonaig route.
The Gigha service was disrupted by sand and seaweed covering the slipway at Tayinloan on Monday forcing LOCH RANZA to sail, with passengers only, to Kennacraig.
LOCHNEVIS made an additional call at Rum, on Wednesday, due to the volume of traffic.
CORUISK left the Clyde on Saturday morning bound for Craignure where she will stay overnight. This is her maiden call at the Mull pier.
BUTE is expected to sail down the Clyde on Monday 26th under the command of Captain Linda Ward bound for the wires at Gourock.
The new Northern Lighthouse Board ship, PHAROS, is due to arrive in Oban on Friday 30th at 11.00.
The former Camusnagaul ferry, CAILLIN AN AISEAG, is lying on the shore at Corpach and has been placed on the sale list.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Clydesite-Ron Ireland/Scotships-Steven Watson.
Further information from Iain McPherson.
25/03/07.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has presented details of the new vessel, which will service the Kennacraig to Islay route from 2010 to the community at a public meeting held on Islay on 22 March 2007.
MV CLANSMAN was named by HRH The Princess Royal on Friday 27th March 1998. She was built by Appledore Shipbuilders, Appledore, Devon and was floated out on Friday 24th April, entering service on July 4th.
CLANSMAN is the fifth ship to bear the name and the first of a new breed of ships to revert to traditional names. Her gross tonnage is 5499 and cruises at a speed of 16.5 knots. She carries 638 passengers and ninety cars with space for ten more on her mezzanine deck.
Traffic on the Islands routes from Oban had increased so much that, by the mid-nineties, a replacement for LORD OF THE ISLES had become a necessity. IONA (1970) did not conform to the new safety regulations so LORD OF THE ISLES was sent to Mallaig to cover the Armadale run.
The new CLANSMAN is an imposing vessel, dwarfing her predecessor. She has an open stern, enabling her to carry dangerous cargoes. Unlike LOTI she has no sleeping berths.
Her covered accommodation, however, is of a high standard with a series of lounges around the ship.
The deck space is somewhat limited although this was remedied by the extension of her upper deck at the stern during her 2004 re-fit.
With her service speed of over sixteen knots she is able to cope with a rigorous schedule. For her first four years in service CLANSMAN served Coll, Tiree, Barra and South Uist from Oban in summer while in winter she became CalMac’s main relief vessel.
She has seen service on many other routes during the winter period covering for CALEDONIAN ISLES, HEBRIDES and ISLE OF LEWIS.
In recent years The Clyde River Steamer Club chartered CLANSMAN during her layover period at Brodick during the winter, although this is no longer possible as Caledonian MacBrayne now operate an additional round trip to Ardrossan.
The Club members have enjoyed trips round Arran, The Holy Isle, Great Cumbrae, Inchmarnock and into Lochranza Bay.
CLANSMAN is featured on the June page of the 2007 Club Calendar departing from Castlebay, Barra on 9th September 2005. Also in the picture is a preserved MacBraynes AEC Reliance Coach belonging to Lawrence MacDuff who took the photograph.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.
Further information from Duncan Wilson.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Caledonian MacBrayne has announced that it is to continue as the main commercial supporter of the Royal National Mod for a sixth consecutive year at Mod 2007 in Lochaber. The Mod, Scotland’s premier Gaelic cultural festival, will take place in Lochaber from 12th to 20th October and organisers are delighted to have retained the support of CalMac for this year’s event.
The March Club meeting, on Friday 30th, featured a Double Bill with two Speakers, Robert Cleary and Ian Hall, presenting “From Arran to Mull-The Story of MVs CALEDONIA and GLEN SANNOX”.
Vice-President Ian Somerville chaired the meeting in the absence of The President, Arthur McDonald.
Robert is a former Purser, who, while he was a student, worked for The Caledonian Steam Packet Company and Caledonian MacBrayne during the summer months from 1968-1981.
Although he spent his time mainly on MAID OF THE LOCH, he also worked on MAID OF ARGYLL, WAVERLEY and GLEN SANNOX, a ship for which he had a special affection.
Ian did not work on the ships but had a special affection for the “Maids” and CALEDONIA. He actively sought trips on these ships after they left Scottish waters for foreign shores.
Ian opened the show with some slides of CALEDONIA in her former role as STENA BALTICA. He then showed slides of the ship in various locations: the Govan Graving Docks, West India Harbour, Ardrossan, Brodick, Oban, Craignure, Dundee and, unusually, the Bristol Berth in Greenock.
Ian finished his presentation with slides of CALEDONIA in her new role as HEIDI in Naples where she sank at her berth.
Although CALEDONIA could be described as a somewhat mundane ship, Ian brought her alive with his presentation.
Robert continued the evening with a fabulous selection of slides portraying GLEN SANNOX in a great number of locations from around the Highlands and Islands taken by Eric Schofield.
GLEN SANNOX became a firm favourite for islanders and enthusiasts alike and, even after she was deposed on the Ardrossan – Brodick route, the people of Arran still regarded her as their ship.
Robert’s obvious affection for GLEN SANNOX was very much evident throughout his presentation.
Iain Quinn gave the vote of thanks, not only on behalf of Ian and Robert, but also Eric whose excellent standards of photography enhanced the authority of the Speakers.
The Annual General Meeting will be held on April 27th concluding this season of Club meetings. After the formal business is over Iain will give a presentation of slides on LOCH SEAFORTH, a ship which this year, would have celebrated her sixtieth anniversary.
All meetings take place in the Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow starting at 19.30 prompt.
Duncan Wilson.
Caledonian MacBrayne has issued amended timetables for the Kennacraig – Islay – Colonsay routes and the Oban – Tiree – Coll – Barra – South Uist routes.
Due to Port Askaig Pier not being available for the ferry service prior to Aril 20th adjustments were made to the timetable to and from Islay including Colonsay.
CalMac are committed to running a two-ship service to Islay during the summer timetable, which started on March 30th.
HEBRIDES has been unable to return to service following her annual re-fit. As a result the timetable fro Oban to the Islands was amended for Friday 30th and Saturday 31st.
An additional sailing from Lochmaddy to Uig (one way only) was organised for Friday evening as the 18.40 sailing from Castlebay to Oban was cancelled. CLANSMAN departed from Lochmaddy at 20.00 and arrived in Uig at 21.40. She had to return to Lochmaddy for the 07.00 service on Saturday.
ISLE OF ARRAN left the Garvel Dry-dock around midnight on Friday and, after trials, berthed at the Gourock wires at 02.30. She then departed from the Clyde bound for Oban to assist LORD OF THE ISLES.
HEBRIDES remained in the James Watt Dock on Saturday 31st while CLANSMAN was still on the Uig roster.
EIGG has been fitted with a new rescue boat similar to those already fitted on her fleet mates.
The former Eigg flit-boat, LAIG BAY, has turned up at Fairlie.
The new PHAROS arrived at a bright, sunny Oban on Saturday escorted into the bay by the Oban lifeboat.
Source: Clydesite/Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne/Scotships-David Livingston and Steven Watson. Further information from Robin Love.
Saturday 31st March 2007.
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk