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LOCH STRIVEN arrived at Ardmaleish on Sunday 30^th where she was immediately slipped together with LOCH ALAINN.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES departed from Kennacraig at 0600 the previous day bound for the Clyde. After dropping off crew’s cars she headed into the James Watt Dock for the night. On Sunday she entered the Garvel dry-dock, which she is sharing with ARGYLE.

ISLE OF ARRAN is soldiering on with the Islay run on her own. However, when ISLE OF MULL returns to Oban, LORD OF THE ISLES will switch places with the Mull vessel and support ISLE OF ARRAN on the Islay run.

Retired Caledonian MacBrayne Master Ian Dewar was the guest speaker at the Club meeting on Friday 28^th November.

Ian Dewar opened his presentation be describing his deep sea career .The Bank Line and Union Castle Line were just two of the companies with which he worked before joining Caledonian MacBrayne.

Among the ships on which Ian served with the company were GLEN SANNOX, IONA, CLAYMORE, ISLE OF MULL, CLANSMAN and a brief spell relieving on board SUILVEN.

More recently he acted as Relief Master on board the coastal cruise ship LORD OF THE GLENS.

Those present were shown a selection of slides depicting the CalMac vessels on which he served.

Ian’s presentation was interesting, informative and humorous. He was rewarded with an excellent turnout from the Club.

The next meeting is on Friday December 19^th. This is the joint meeting with the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society. The speaker is Mr David Rodger and his presentation is entitled “Hebridean Princess”.

LOCH LINNHE left Tobermory at 07.10 on Wednesday 26^th enroute for Sconser having been relieved, on the Tobermory-Kilchoan route, by RAASAY. She arrived at Sconser the following day having stopped for the night at Mallaig. Her fleet mate, LOCH STRIVEN, left for the long voyage south to the Clyde for her annual overhaul.

Also on Wednesday the 18.00 departure from Kennacraig was, once again, diverted to Port Askaig.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES left Gourock at 13.00 on Monday 24^th and returned to Kennacraig, where she arrived at 21.30, having sailed through the Largs Channel.

ISLE OF MULL and LOCH DUNVEGAN both emerged from the Garvel dry-dock on Monday afternoon and moored in the James Watt Dock.

CLANSMAN sailed at 05.30 but only to Barra. Passengers for South Uist made their way across the Sound of Barra on board LOCH BHRUSDA.

Due to the state of the slipway at Iona LOCH RIDDON is operating a restricted service until December 7^th of four return sailings from Fionnphort.

With CALEDONIAN ISLES having problems HEBRIDEAN ISLES sailed from Kennacraig at 01.00 on Sunday morning and arrived off Brodick shortly after daybreak. CALEDONIAN ISLES spent the morning tied up at Ardrossan having completed unsuccessful trials out on the Firth.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES was unable to berth at Brodick due to the strong winds. She did attempt to berth several times but was unsuccessful. CALEDONIAN ISLES ventured out on further sea trials at 12.00. She made her way across to Brodick where she managed to berth at the pier.

CLANSMAN, LOCH PORTAIN and LOCH BHRUSDA were stormbound at Oban, Sound of Harris and Sound of Barra respectively.

CLANSMAN sailed from Lochboisdale to Castlebay at 13.35 on Friday and then back to Oban. Her 08.30 service from Oban was cancelled as she was stormbound at Lochboisdale on the evening of Thursday 20^th.

The 18.00 sailing from Kennacraig to Port Ellen was diverted to Port Askaig on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday PENTALINA B did not sail due to the adverse weather conditions. The next scheduled sailing will be at 07.15 from Stornoway on Thursday morning.

LOCH LINNHE tied up at the Inner Harbour, Rothesay on Saturday 15^th where she will remain while her overhaul is completed. She will then head north to relieve LOCH STRIVEN at Raasay.

LOCH BUIE sailed from Campbeltown early on Friday morning. She arrived at Rhubodach at 11.30 where she unloaded crew’s cars before going to Ardmaleish for her annual overhaul.

HEBRIDES ran roughly four hours late on Friday on her run from Tarbert to Uig. This was due to both the weather and technical problems. She sailed from Uig to Lochmaddy where she spent the night.

LOCHNEVIS ran late on the afternoon run from Mallaig. She carried out an additional sailing from Mallaig at 15.00, which delayed the 16.00 sailing.

ISLE OF MULL arrived at Gourock at 07.20 on Thursday in order to unload crew’s cars. Having done so she moved up-river to the Garvel dry-dock where she joined LOCH DUNVEGAN.

With the18.00 departure of ISLE OF MULL from Oban on Wednesday 12^th, LORD OF THE ISLES will take over on the Mull and Colonsay routes.

The weather brought a few disruptions on Tuesday 11^th. The first two round trips across the Sound of Barra were cancelled, as LOCH BHRUSDA was stormbound. LOCH RANZA was out of service for a while and HEBRIDES sailed to an amended timetable.

ISLE OF LEWIS sailed from Ullapool to Uig and carried out an extra return sailing from Uig to Tarbert. She then returned to Ullapool before sailing to Stornoway.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES and ISLE OF ARRAN were diverted to Port Askaig instead of sailing to Port Ellen.

LOCH RIDDON sailed to Fionnphort from Tobermory where she had stayed overnight. LOCH BUIE then began her journey south to Ardmaleish for her overhaul.

ISLE OF MULL was an hour late on the 07.00 crossing from Oban to Craignure. She didn’t attempt to sail to Colonsay at 12.00. LOCHNEVIS remained in the safe confines of Mallaig Harbour all day.

EIGG sailed from Oban at 10.00 bound for Lismore but failed to get on to the slipway. She returned to Oban where she stayed for the rest of the day.

HEBRIDES ran very late with the 09.40 run from Uig not leaving until 14.00. The scheduled 16.00 service from Tarbert was cancelled as was the 18.00 to Lochmaddy.

The linkspan at Ullapool closed on Monday for repairs. All vehicle traffic is being routed through Uig and Tarbert while ISLE OF LEWIS will offer a passenger only service from Stornoway to Ullapool at 07.15 and returning at 17.15.

CLANSMAN was unable to berth and both Coll and Tiree on Sunday 9^th. She returned to Oban where she arrived at 15.00. Her 15.30 service to the Outer Isles was cancelled. Sailings from Uig were also disrupted with HEBRIDES sailing from Uig to Lochmaddy at 16.20.

The former Caledonian MacBrayne vessel PENTALINA B will be stepping in to relieve MUIRNEAG when she goes away for her overhaul. She will carry out two sailings a day between Stornoway and Ullapool.

Farmers and crofters have another chance to air their views on the lack of lairage facilities at the redeveloped Kennacraig ferry terminal.

Caledonian MacBrayne Maritime Assets Ltd has appointed Halcrow Group to carry out the redevelopment of Kennacraig and Port Ellen ferry terminals.

Members of the public have been invited to have their say on the business cases put forward on the plans at open sessions at the Templar Arts Centre, Tarbert on November 24^th, Bowmore Hall on November 25^th and the Ramsay Hall, Port Ellen on November 26^th.All meeting are being held between 16.00 and 19.00.

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry CLANSMAN has been awarded an Eat Safe certificate after meeting exacting standards in food hygiene and safety.

Recent bad weather has highlighted the urgent need for lairage facilities for livestock to be included in the plans to upgrade the ferry terminal at Kennacraig.

Vehicles carrying livestock to Islay or Jura can arrive at the mainland ferry terminal to find that scheduled sailings have been delayed or cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. To comply with animal welfare regulations, the animals can’t be held indefinably within the vehicles. Regulations introduced to limit the risk of cross infection in the wake of foot and Mouth Disease prevent the animals from being off-loaded at any neighbouring farms.

Following the closure of the livestock market at Tarbert several years ago the nearest licensed lairages are sixty miles away at Dalmally or Oban.

Representatives of the National Farmers Union Scotland9NFUS) on Islay had discussions with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) regarding the provision of holding facilities for livestock in transit to and from the island.

However NFUS are disappointed that plans for lairage facilities for animals at Kennacraig have not been included in the plans for the redevelopment by CMAL’s preferred engineering contractors, Halcrow.

A spokesman for CMAL confirmed that there is no plan for a lairage at Kennacraig but there will be an area for drop-trailers where lorries can store their trailers for the next sailing.

However NFUS is insisting that a small lairage facility is essential to comply with current EC regulations.

Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited, which supplies crew for the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet operated by CalMac Ferries Limited around the West Coast of Scotland, is seeking around 120 staff for the 2009 summer season.

Ferrymen who operate the ferry between Seil and Luing will no longer offer an out-of-hours service to the island. The 200 islanders on Luing are left without emergency ferry cover after final attempts to agree a fairer deal for council workers failed.

The ferry will not run other than the times that it is timetabled to run. It does not run after 18.15 Monday to Saturday and there is no Sunday service.