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| October 2007 news Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Caledonian MacBrayne Crewing (Guernsey) Limited, which supplies crew for the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet operated by CalMac Ferries Limited has launched its summer recruitment drive for 2008. The company is now seeking around 120 staff who will be employed to meet CalMac Ferries service requirements in the 2008 summer season.
Sunday sailings to the Western Isles will be top of the agenda at a Caledonian MacBrayne board meeting to be held in Fort William on Wednesday November 28th.
CalMac are to begin discussions with “interested parties “ in the Western Isles into Sunday sailings from the islands of Lewis and Harris.
The issues will be detailed and documented in a report, which will go in front of the meeting of the CalMac board.
A meeting of the CalMac board in Gourock recently heard that the company has received a number of requests for seven-day sailings and responses asking for the maintenance of the status quo.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday October 4th.
Rapidly rising whisky sales have boosted Islay’s bid for an extra ferry.
Demand for the islands single malts is so great that Caledonian MacBrayne has bowed to pressure from the island’s distilleries for an extra vessel. Islay will therefore have a two-vessel service from Port Ellen to Kennacraig during the winter timetable months of October to March.
Even during the winter now the ferry is very busy. Whisky distilleries are at maximum production and there is a lot of building work going on.
A new vessel is to be ordered for the Islay service due for delivery in 2011.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 4th.
Twenty-eight members of the West Highland Steamer Club gathered in Oban on Saturday 6th for a 40th Anniversary lunch on board ISLE OF MULL.
A full account of the event can be found on the Other Activities page on this website.
07/10/07.
The Castlebay – Oban service will sail via Tiree on Sunday 14th. This is to accommodate the Tiree Wave Classic. Arrival time in Oban will be approximately 15.50. The 15.10 from Oban to Lochboisdale will depart at 16.10.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne will be the main Travel Supporter of the Tunnocks Tour of Mull Rally 2007, which is to take place in Mull from 12 – 13 October 2007. The CalMac support will assist with the costs of transporting key vehicles and back-up facilitates to the Tour of Mull Rally, organised by the 2300 Club.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
11/10/07.
The Small Isles service from Mallaig (LOCHNEVIS) will face disruptions for operational reasons on Saturday 13th. There will be no afternoon call at Canna and also no non-landing cruises.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
12/10/07.
LOCHNEVIS arrived on the Clyde today (14/10) for her annual overhaul. By mid-afternoon she was moored in the James Watt Dock, Greenock.
Source: Clydesite-Various.
14/10/07.
LOCH FYNE was assisted by LOCH LINNHE on the Lochaline – Fishnish route on Sunday 14th. The Mull Rally generated a lot of extra traffic over the weekend.
The Small Isles ferry ran to an amended timetable on Monday 15th due to the weather conditions.
The Oban – Castlebay – Lochboisdale and Oban – Coll – Tiree routes were subject to delays and disruptions on Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th due to operational requirements.
Also on Tuesday the Mallaig – Eigg – Muck service was disrupted due to the fact that the normal vessel on the route (LOCHNEVIS) is away for overhaul at the present time. Caledonian MacBrayne are advising their customers that the substitute vessel is not suitable for non-landing cruises.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed the start of its new vessel overhaul season at the Port Bannatyne yard of the Ardmaleish Boatbuilding Company Ltd on the island of Bute.
17/10/07.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) today launched its 2008 Explore brochure at the Royal National Mod in Fort William (Thursday 18 October). Explore 2008 is CalMac’s main leisure brochure and an essential planning tool for everyone interested in travelling to the 24 destinations off Scotland’s west coast that form the CalMac network.
Link to Caledonian MacBrayne.
A journey into the heart of the Gaelic world has been so successful that five new trips are to be launched.
LORD OF THE ISLES is due in for her overhaul on Monday 22nd on the Clyde. She is still currently sailing with her bow visor welded shut awaiting repairs and operating as stern loader only. She will depart at 0500 ex Oban tomorrow (21/10), passing Port Askaig around 0800 - 0900 before rounding the Mull of Kintyre en route to the Clyde for her overhaul.
SATURN will only cover at Islay if there is a breakdown during the two ship scheduled service to the island. She won’t be covering for overhauls as anticipated. ISLE OF MULL will definitely cover at Arran on the Brodick - Ardrossan roster while CALEDONIAN ISLES goes for overhaul on 26th November. RAASAY is presently covering on the Mallaig – Small Isles service.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
The cruise ship HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS will call at the following Scottish ports during the month of November.
Oban 1st and 7th 08.00 – 19.00, Craobh Haven 2nd, Jura 3rd and 8th, Colonsay 4th, Iona 5th, Lismore 6th, Campbeltown 9th, Sanda 10th, Inveraray 11th, Rothesay 12th, Holy Loch 13th, Fairlie 14th.
Source: Ships Monthly. www.shipsmonthly.com
The November edition of Ships Monthly celebrates thirty-five years of Caledonian MacBrayne in a twelve page Datafile. Russell Plummer looks back over three and a half decades since the creation of Britain’s largest domestic ferry organisation, and at the earlier years of the two historic constituent companies, The Caledonian Steam Packet Company and David MacBrayne Ltd.
As can be expected photographs play a large part in the feature. CLANSMAN (1998) is portrayed on the front t cover while many ships ranging from COLUMBA (1887), LOCHFYNE (1931), CALEDONIA (1934), MAID OF ASHTON (1953), HEBRIDES (1964), SATURN (1978), ISLE OF ARRAN (1984), CALEDONIAN ISLES (1993), HEBRIDES (2001), BUTE (2005) and LOCH SHIRA (2007) are also portrayed.
Duncan Wilson.
New ferry fare increases being introduced by Caledonian MacBrayne next year have been welcomed for being below the Retail Price Index.
The ferry company is to put up fares by 1.8% from April 1st 2008.
Argyll and Bute councillor Robin Curry, who lives on Islay, said islanders were happy that the increase was at the lowest possible level.
A spokesman for CalMac said the increases would apply to all traffic and tickets including freight operators. CalMac believe that, having absorbed significant cost increases throughout the previous year, with no additional increases past on to customers, this small increase represents a reasonable outcome in the circumstances.
Plans for a pilot study into a road equivalent tariff approach to ferry fares have recently been announced.
Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 18th.
20/10/07.
The Caledonian MacBrayne winter timetable starts today (21/10) and runs through to March 28th 2008.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk
21/10/07.
LORD OF THE ISLES arrived at Gourock, where she off-loaded crew’s cars, at 14.51 on Sunday 21st. She then sailed to the James Watt Dock. On Monday morning she deployed her port chute.
Also on Monday the Claonaig – Lochranza service (LOCH TARBERT) was disrupted by the weather and HEBRIDES departed from Lochmaddy at 12.40 fifty minutes late due to an engine problem.
Source: Ships of CalMac. www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk
23/10/07.
LORD OF THE ISLES was still in the James Watt Dock on Wednesday morning (24/10). LOCH BHRUSDA left the Clyde en route for winter service at Eriskay. She stayed over-night at Campbeltown before heading up to Tobermory. Due to the weather conditions she ended up at Oban.
CLANSMAN and ISLE OF MULL both trialled the new Oban linkspan on Wednesday.
Strong winds caused problems to many services on Thursday 25th. LOCH BHRUSDA remained moored at the North Pier in Oban. Passengers at Craignure were using the car deck for arrivals and departures due to difficulties with the gangway on Wednesday.
LOCHNEVIS left the Clyde on Friday 26th with an overnight stop at Port Ellen before heading on up to Mallaig. CORUISK should be heading south when she arrives. Strong winds continued to sweep across the Western Isles causing disruptions and cancellations to many services.
On Saturday 27th most services were running according to schedule with only the Fionnphort – Iona, Sconser – Raasay and Ardmhor – Eriskay services subject to disruptions. On Sunday all services, apart from The Small Isles and Islay, were running normally.
Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac.
The new winter season of meetings opened on Friday 26th when Club President Arthur McDonald gave the Presidential Address.
Arthur’s interest in ships of the Western Isles goes back to his childhood when his father was First Mate on LOCHEARN, LOCHFYNE and SAINT COLUMBA. He showed a number of slides of those ships and also of KING GEORGE V sand LOCHNEVIS.
Robin Love is now looking for subscriptions for the forthcoming year, which stand at £15.00.
Club calendars are on sale, price £6.00 if purchased at Club meetings or £7.00 by post. The calendar will be available, in limited numbers, in a twelve-page format at a price of £8.50 including post on a first come-first served basis.
The next meeting is on November 30th and continues a Fortieth Anniversary theme with the subject matter being “A night with our former Office-Bearers”. The Speakers are Messrs. Peter Reid, Robert Warnock and Eric Schofield. Tea, coffee and a birthday cake will be offered at the end of the meeting.
All meetings take place in The Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow commencing at 19.30.
The Club has arranged an organised visit to The Clydeport Control Tower, Greenock on November 23rd.Names should be given to Robin Love as soon as possible.
Following the successful Fortieth Anniversary Lunch on board ISLE OF MULL on October 6th Club members will be meeting at Ardrossan on December 1st when ISLE OF MULL will be in service on the Brodick run. It is hoped that as many members as possible will be on board.
Duncan Wilson.
28/10/07.
LOCHNEVIS spent the night at Craignure in the company of ISLE OF MULL, as she was unable to round Ardnamurchan Point due to the strong winds. RAASAY remained at Mallaig instead of making her way to Tobermory to relieve LOCH LINNHE. She is expected at Ardmaleish in the next few days. LOCH BHRUSDA left Craignure and made for Tobermory where she waited for an opportunity to make her way across to Barra.
On Sunday 28th LOCHNEVIS departed from Craignure around 09.00 and arrived safely at Mallaig. RAASAY then departed for Tobermory.LOCH LINNHE sailed to Craignure for an overnight stop.
The combined Tarbert – Portavadie – Lochranza winter service opened on Sunday with LOCH TARBERT in charge. ISLE OF CUMBRAE then became spare vessel.
On Monday 29th CORUISK sailed for Gourock where she will go into dry-dock for her annual overhaul. LOCH LINNHE was also en route for the Clyde. CLANSMAN carried out a lifeboat drill in the Sound of Mull.
LOCH BHRUSDA left Tobermory and made it to Barra where she relieved LOCH ALAINN, which departed from Barra in the late morning and arrived at Tobermory about 14.00.
On Tuesday 30th The Ullapool – Stornoway freight service (MUIRNEAG) was cancelled due to the weather.
On Wednesday 31st CORUISK and LORD OF THE ISLES were in the Garvel dry-dock together for their overhaul.
LOCH ALAINN sailed to Lochaline where she carried two timber trucks to Fishnish for berthing trials. She then went to Oban for a crew change. After that she sailed to Craignure where she stayed overnight. She is expected at Colintraive where she will relieve LOCH DUNVEGAN for her overhaul.
Source: Ships of CalMac/Caledonian MacBrayne.
Wednesday 31st October 2007.
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Contact WHSC: info@westhighlandsteamerclub.co.uk