news

Companies, which make frequent use of the Sound of Barra and Sound of Harris ferry services, will soon be able to take advantage of a 30% reduction in fares.

They had hoped to offer money to Caledonian MacBrayne, but as CalMac already receives money from the public purse, they were unable to do so. Instead the money will be given directly to local companies if they can prove that it will be beneficial and put to good use.

The project will cost £150,000 and will run for two years. Should it have proved successful then it will be extended for an unspecified period.

Due to mechanical problems the 1715 and 1750 sailings between Lochranza and Claonaig were cancelled today (04/09). The service resumed with the 1825 from Lochranza.

The National Lighthouse Board ship PHAROS arrived on the Clyde today before being handed over to her new owners in the Falkland Islands. She docked in the James Watt Dock this afternoon. She has since been re-named PHAROS X but the port of registry is still Leith.

HEBRIDEAN ISLES departed from Port Askaig thirty-five minutes late on Tuesday 2^nd due to a very high tide, which caused difficulties for the cattle floats trying to drive of the vehicle deck. ISLE OF ARRAN was also running late.

Due to low tidal conditions on the Sound of Harris the timetable between Berneray and Leverburgh has been amended from Thursday 7^th until Monday 11^th September.

The Tobermory – Kilchoan ferry also faces disruptions due to low tides on Friday and Saturday 8^th and 9^th September. The following sailings are cancelled:

V Ships, the world’s largest ship management company, is no longer bidding to run the ferry service between Gourock and Dunoon claiming that the bidding process is unfair. V Ships confirmed yesterday (08/09) it was dropping out of the bidding for the Gourock – Dunoon link.

Caledonian MacBrayne, the current operators, Western Ferries and V Ships were asked by the Scottish Executive to submit bids. When the bidding process is settled the service will no longer receive a subsidy.

Bob Bishop, Chief Executive of V Ships, felt that he was not sufficiently comfortable with the bidding following his experience with the Northlink tender process. He is, therefore, no longer going to continue with the Gourock – Dunoon route.

It is understood that V Ships felt at a disadvantage as CalMac already had the detailed information about the route and Western Ferries had the lion’s share of the business.

Due to a strong current at Port Askaig today HEBRIDEAN ISLES first attempt at berthing was aborted so she sailed back down the Sound of Jura and tried again successfully berthing at the second attempt ten minutes late at 1515.

On Wednesday 13^th LOCH NEVIS ran to an amended timetable after departing from Canna after only five minutes due to a bad weather forecast. She normally sits at the pier from 1255 until 1430.

ISLE OF ARRAN was running an hour late on Thursday 14^th due to a problem with one of her engines. She did not berth at Port Ellen until 1300.

Western Ferries, a significant employer on the Cowal peninsular with fifty-one staff on its books, has announced a £4 million improvement package to its service.

Two new linkspans are planned together with two new berthing structures, a bigger car marshalling area and better passenger facilities at the Gourock McInroy’s Point and Dunoon Hunters Quay terminals.

Aid from Argyll and the Islands Enterprise will enable the work, due to be finished by next spring, to be carried out simultaneously at both terminals.

Western Ferries has used Clyde-based companies to carry out the work. Fergusons of Port Glasgow built the linkspans. Clydebank consulting engineers Arch Henderson LLP undertook the terminals design work and the contract for the project went to Glasgow civil engineering contractors George Leslie Limited, which recently completed the first phase of the second roll on-roll off linkspan at Oban.

Dunoon-based Western Ferries has run a commercial service for thirty years. The company has confirmed that it still interested in tendering for the Gourock – Dunoon route presently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. It wants to see more individual CalMac routes opened up for competition.

Western Ferries managing director Gordon Ross is confident that his company is in a strong position to retain its service. He added that he has some sympathy for V Ships who has pulled out of the tendering process for the Gourock – Dunoon route claiming that the tender is biased towards CalMac.

CalMac press spokesman Hugh Dan MacLennan would not be drawn on Mr Ross’s comments. He said: “We are still considering all our options and have no comment to make on any other operator’s business”.

The results of a study presented to HITRANS (Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership) to find an alternative approach to ferry funding revealed this week, that in addition to the creation of over 700 jobs in the Western Isles, £22.2 million could be injected into the local economy if ferry fares are reduced and changes made to timetables.

This means that, although the islands would receive an economic boost, the existing subsidy received by Caledonian MacBrayne would remain the same.

The aims of the study, commissioned by HITRANS, were to assess existing and alternative fare structures and their economic and social impact on the Western Isles.

Other findings conclude that the cost of fares to the Western Isles is high in comparison with other subsidised routes while the frequency of services is low and the timing of crossings inconsistent.

Fergus Ewing, MSP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber said: “The report proposes more frequent ferry services and lower fares. The Clyde and Hebridean ferry services are currently out to tender. Unless this tender can be amended to provide the extra ferries and lower fares, then it should be scrapped”.

Jim Mather MSP, shadow SNP spokesman for enterprise added: “I have maintained that the present ferry tendering process, where existing high levels of fares are frozen, offers little prospect of any genuine improvement in the services”.

A spokeswoman for Caledonian MacBrayne said: “ We have only just received the report and are still digesting it. Until that time we don’t have any comment to make on the content”.

The ferry service between Campbeltown and Ballycastle has received more political support this week this time from Highlands and Islands MSP Maureen MacMillan.

She has contacted Northern Ireland’s enterprise minister, Maria Eagle and UK Trade and Industry secretary, Alistair Darling, saying that the ferry route should be re-established without further delay.

The cruise ship, CLIPPER ADVENTURER, called at Plockton on Monday 11^th after visiting Inverewe Gardens. Over 100 passengers were on board and they made full use on the new pontoon at Plockton, which opened earlier this year.

Eigg 1^st, Colonsay 2^nd, Port Ellen 3^rd, Crinan 4^th, Oban 5^th, Loch Torridon 6^th, Gairloch 7^th, Handa 8^th, Ullapool 9^th, Tarbert 10^th, Loch Scavaig 11^th, Oban 12^th, Rum 13^th, Gairloch 14^th, Kyle of Lochalsh 15^th, Eigg 16^th, Iona 17^th, Tobermory 18^th, Oban 19^th, Rum 20^th, Portree 21^st, Gairloch 22^nd, Kyle of Lochalsh 23^rd, Salen 24^th, Craignure 25^th, Oban 26^th, Craobh Haven 27^th, Port Ellen 28^th, Colonsay 29^th, Iona 30^th, Fort William 31^st then to Oban.

The Lochranza – Claonaig service was disrupted by the weather this afternoon (18/09). Normal service resumed with the 1825 ex Lochranza.

Both calls at Muck were cancelled on Tuesday 19^th due to poor weather conditions.LOCH NEVIS sailed to Eigg and returned to Mallaig around 1400.

LOCH NEVIS departed from Canna earlier than usual She left at 1330 instead of 1435. The second call at Rum was cancelled. She arrived back in Mallaig around 1530.

Caledonian MacBrayne has announced that it is to restructure from October 1^st in preparation for its tendering exercise, which began with the Invitation to Tender for the Gourock- Dunoon service.

Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair said: “ To enable the existing Caledonian MacBrayne business to participate in that tender process it is a requirement that there be a clear legal separation between, on the one hand, the company that owns the vessels and ports and, on the other hand, the company that actually operates the ferry services. At the present time Caledonian MacBrayne Limited both owns the vessels and the ports and runs the ferry service.

To achieve this end a reorganisation of the Company structure is necessary. A new company, CalMac ferries Limited, has been set up. Like Caledonian MacBrayne Limited, CalMac Ferries Limited is ultimately owned by the Scottish Ministers.

With effect from 1^st October 2006 the business of running the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services will be transferred to CalMac Ferries Limited.The ownership of the vessels and ports will remain with Caledonian MacBrayne Limited. All employees of Caledonian MacBrayne Limited, with a few limited exceptions, will transfer their employment to CalMac Ferries Limited with effect from 1^st October 2006. The transfer will have no impact upon employees’ terms and conditions. Apart from the change of Company it will be business as usual.”

The 0945 sailing from Kennacraig to Port Ellen was diverted to Port Askaig this morning. The 1800 return from Port Ellen will, therefore, depart from Port Askaig.

The Tarbert – Portavadie, Claonaig – Lochranza and Tayinloan – Gigha services are all cancelled until further notice due to the weather conditions.

It will be 100 years, this December, since the first scheduled bus service operated by David MacBrayne Ltd ran from Fort William to North Ballachulish.

To celebrate this centenary of Highland transport, The MacBrayne Circle, a group of MacBrayne bus enthusiasts interested in preserving the distinctive buses, has organised a centenary run on Saturday October 7^th.

The plan is to leave the West End car park at 1100 for North Ballachulish with a fleet of original buses. The bus terminus used to be in Gordon Square adjacent to the old railway station.

The MacBrayne Circle was founded in 1990 with a view to preserving the history of MacBrayne’s Bus Services. To date members and owners, one of whom is Club member Lawrence MacDuff, have acquired thirteen buses and have restored them to their former glory.

On Friday 22^nd the writer travelled to Inverie, Knoydart, on board Bruce Watt’s ship WESTERN ISLES. The new pier at Inverie is a very substantial L-shaped solid concrete structure. The new slipway is built on one side while steps leading down to the water are on the other side. This is in contrast to the new piers at Muck, Eigg and Rum, which are a series of dolphins with a concrete walkway on top and the slipway on one side. There is no provision for yachts or private vessels.

LOCH NEVIS called at Inverie on Thursday 24^th August when Transport Minister, Tavish Scott, formally opened the pier. However the Knoydart Foundation workboat, SPANISH JOHN, has been joined by another workboat, SPANISH JOHN II, a very much larger vessel. She is more than capable of carrying bulk goods and cargoes. She uses the slipway at Inverie and an on-board crane at Mallaig. The only time LOCH NEVIS would be required to call at Inverie would be to carry vehicles to and from the village. Inverie has never been part of the Caledonian MacBrayne remit and is not included in the present tendering process so it is unlikely that she will be calling on a regular basis.

The Island Class ferry BRUERNISH was sold out of the Fleet on Monday 25^th and left Oban on Tuesday 26^th. She was built by James Lamont & Co Ltd at Port Glasgow in 1973. She is going to operate ferry services on the west coast of Ireland.

ISLE OF ARRAN departed from Port Ellen for the last time this summer on Monday. Now that the two-ship service to Islay is over she will become spare ship providing overhaul cover for the rest of the Fleet.

LOCH NEVIS cut short her stay at Canna on Wednesday 27^th. The writer was on board, but having been on Canna before, paid a visit to Rum. The cruise ship, HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS, lay at anchor in Loch Scresort as we arrived. Time ashore was limited to around two hours. The former Rum flit boat, RHOUMA, lay at the old stone pier, which would have been the entry point on the island before the new pier was built.

HEBRIDEAN PRINCESS raised anchor and departed immediately after LOCH NEVIS arrived back at 1405. She headed south towards Eigg while we headed back to Mallaig facing a stiff breeze and a heavy swell. We arrived back at 1530.

LORD OF THE ISLES was unable to call at Colonsay on Wednesday. The next sailing was on Thursday at 0900. HEBRIDEAN ISLES was diverted to Port Askaig instead of Port Ellen. ISLE OF ARRAN moved from Kennacraig to Port Askaig where it is more sheltered. LOCH TARBERT was stormbound at Lochranza for the afternoon.

The writer was lucky to witness LOCH STRIVEN arriving at Mallaig at 2130 on Wednesday evening. Due to the high winds a CalMac Official was drafted in to help the crew tie up for the night. He said that normally the crew would tie up the ship themselves but he was called in to help due to the high winds. Her added that he had been on the go for fifteen hours and had seen CORUISK come and go nine times during the day. LOCH STRIVEN was safely tied up by 2150. She was scheduled to depart from Mallaig at 0630 on Thursday morning. LOCH RIDDON will deputise for her on the Sconser – Raasay route while she is away for overhaul.

LOCH NEVIS departed from Mallaig at 1205 on Thursday immediately after CORUISK arrived in from Armadale. The call at Muck was dropped so it was a return trip to Eigg. We left Mallaig with eight passengers, two pallets of goods, two 12ft plastic pipes and a bicycle on board. Arrival time at Eigg was 1320. Despite the strong winds and high seas the crew didn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave. We left at 1340 with twelve passengers and two vehicles on board.

As we approached Mallaig the captain announced that we would be slowing down for around ten-fifteen minutes. This was because CORUISK was at the linkspan. If we didn’t have the vehicles on board there wouldn’t have been a problem. We slowed down and turned round in a circle causing LOCH NEVIS to roll heavily in the swell. Eventually we docked at 1530. After an excellent week the writer took the train back to Glasgow at 1610.

On Friday 29^th the former Northern Lighthouse Board ship PHAROS now renamed PHAROS S G left the James Watt Dock in Greenock at 0950, resplendent with red hull, bound for Southampton and her new career based in the Falkland Islands.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne/Ships of CalMac/Clydesite-Tony Cannon, Bruce Biddulph. Other information from Duncan Wilson and Iain McPherson.

George was a strong supporter of WAVERLEY. He was always a familiar sight on board and knew how many passengers were on board at any given time. George was a true gentleman who always had time for a few words with everyone.

He was also a member of the Friends of the West Highland Lines. On Saturday May 20^th he made the effort to get up early to attend the AGM at Banavie near Fort William. At that time he looked quite healthy and fit.

The writer last met him at the Scottish Bus Museum Open Day at Lathallan, near Dunfermline, on Saturday August 19^th. Sadly he looked very frail and weak.

Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that that its fare levels effective from April 2007 will see an increase of 2.2 % across the network apart from the Gourock – Dunoon route.

CalMac believes that, having absorbed significant increases in costs through escalating fuel charges throughout the previous year with no additional charges or levies passed on to customers, the increase represents a reasonable outcome in the circumstances.