28/09/09.

 

The Berneray - Leverburgh (Sound of Harris) service will face disruptions on Sunday 18^th October due to tidal conditions.

The 16.15 sailing from Berneray and 17.25 sailing from Leverburgh have been cancelled.

The vessel will now depart from Berneray at 16.00 and from Leverburgh at 17.05 on this day only.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 CalMac to consider a private cash deal for fleet

A new fleet of ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne could be built using public-private funding.

 

 

26/09/09.

 

Due to technical difficulties the 17.00 and 19.00 sailings from Oban to Achnacroish, Lismore  and the 18.00 and 20.00 return sailings from Achnacroish were cancelled.

Normally EIGG is the rostered vessel on this route.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 

25/09/09.

 

 

 24/09/09.

 

On Friday 25^th  the following timetable will apply on the Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale route due to livestock movements.

Dep Oban 13.40, Arr Castlebay 18.30, Dep Castlebay 18.50,Arr Lochboisdale 20.20, Dep Lochboisdale 20.30, Arr Oban 01.30(Saturday morning).

The call by LOCHNEVIS at Muck is in doubt today due to the weather conditions.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk     

 

 

Caledonian MacBrayne announced yesterday that it is making twenty-two changes to its timetables following consultations with the local communities affected from Harris to Arran and Bute.

The company said the changes, which include the introduction of a number of additional sailings on some routes, were largely aimed at improving integration with other ferries, as well as bus and train services.

The changes to the winter timetable will come into effect on Sunday 25^th October and are now available to book online. Summer sailings will be available to book later in the year.

The changes include a new Saturday sailing from Mallaig to Muck; better integration of Mallaig to Armadale sailings; additional sailings from Uig to Tarbert; extension of Saturday sailings from Sconser to Raasay; improved integration of Barra to Eriskay and better connections with the Lochmaddy to Uig route.

Source: The Herald, Tuesday 22^nd September.

 

 

17/09/09.

 

Due to essential engineering works being carried out at Port Ellen on Saturday 19^th  the 07.00 sailing from Kennacraig and the 09.45 return from Port Ellen will operate to and from Port Askaig.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

Caledonian MacBrayne was urged last night to procure an
additional standby vessel for use on routes to the Western Isles after CLANSMAN was forced to return to Oban for repairs.
Passengers on the ferry from Oban to Barra were provided with accommodation
while urgent work was done and the ship eventually departed later yesterday.
The demand was made by Argyll and Bute Liberal Democrat MP Alan Reid
following earlier complaints when the official standby vessel, ISLE OF ARRAN, was diverted from the Islay service, which she plies when not required
to stand in during emergencies, to the inconvenience of passengers
travelling to Islay.
He said: "Delays like this are appalling because, as well as inconveniencing
islanders and local businesses, they damage tourism."
A CalMac spokesman said the breakdown was highly regrettable, adding: "We
can only apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused."
He said: "We are aware of suggestions that another vessel should have been
sourced to cover this service, but the vessels we use are specially designed
for the waters off the west coast of Scotland, and we know from extensive
research that extra vessels capable of operating in these waters simply do
not exist.
"This means our ability to deal with breakdowns and other incidents is
extremely limited and we can only ask customers for their patience and
understanding."

Source: The Press and Journal per Gary Andrews, Ferries of Northern Europe.

 

 

14/09/09.

 

A ferry packed with passengers on their way to the Outer Hebrides was forced to return to the mainland last night after it broke down.

The vessel, with around ninety people on board, left Oban at 15.40 and was on its way to Barra and South Uist when it developed engine problems at around 18.00. It took several hours to sail back to Oban, where it will undergo repairs.

Caledonian MacBrayne cancelled today’s sailing from South Uist and Barra, but said it hoped that the ferry would be repaired in time for the afternoon sailing from Oban.

Caledonian MacBrayne apologised for any inconvenience and arranged for over-night accommodation for passengers.

Source: The Herald, Monday 14^th September.

 

Sailings between Oban and Craignure are delayed by up to 1 hour 40 minutes today for technical reasons.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 

13/09/09.

 

The sailing from Oban to Lochboisdale and Castlebay was cancelled for today due to technical reasons. Tomorrow’s return sailing from Lochboisdale and Castlebay is also cancelled.

The next sailing will be as per timetable.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 

08/09/09.

 

High winds are affecting many services across the Western Isles today.

The 09.25 & 11.10 sailings to Eriskay and the 10.15 & 13.00 sailings to Barra were cancelled. 

The situation will be reviewed at approximately 15.00 for the next return sailing.

The 09.20 from Barra to Oban is stormbound in Barra. The situation will be reviewed at 16.00 . The 15.40  from Oban to South Uist and Barra has been cancelled . The next sailing from Oban to South Uist will be tomorrow at 06.30  and from Oban to Barra also tomorrow at 13.40 .

The following timetable will operate  Dep Oban 06.30, Arr Lochboisdale 11.50, Dep Lochboisdale 12.10, Arr Oban 17.30.  This service will be carried out by LORD OF THE ISLES.

The 13.40  from Oban to Barra and the 18.50  from Barra back to Oban will run as timetabled.

Today’s service from Oban to Coll and Tiree is cancelled. The next sailing from Oban will be tomorrow at 06.00 as timetabled.

The 11.50 from Tarbert to Uig has been postponed. The situation will be  reviewed at 14.00.

The 14.00 Uig-Lochmaddy and the 16.00 Lochmaddy-Uig sailings have been cancelled The next sailing will be tomorrow at 09.40 from Uig.

All sailings between Ullapool and Stornoway are cancelled today.

Services from Mallaig to Armadale and the Small Isles are cancelled today.

Other sailings may be subject to delays and cancellations throughout the day.

Due to the volume of traffic there will be sailings tomorrow departing from Berneray at 10.30 and from Leverburgh at 11.40 .

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 

06/09/09.

 

The Berneray - Leverburgh route across the Sound of Harris (LOCH PORTAIN) will face disruptions from Friday 18^th until Monday 21^st due to adverse tidal conditions.

The following timetable alterations will apply:

Friday 18^th 13.30 sailing from Berneray and 14.40 sailing from Leverburgh have been cancelled. Additional sailings will depart from Berneray at 09.45 and from Leverburgh at 10.55.

Saturday 19^th 13.30 sailing from Berneray and 14.40  from Leverburgh have been cancelled. Additional sailings will depart from Berneray at 10.15 and from Leverburgh at 11.25.

Monday 21^st  13.30 sailing from Berneray and 14.40 from Leverburgh have been .

Additional sailings depart from Berneray at 11.45 and from Leverburgh at 12.50.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 

03/09/09.

 

HEBRIDES is presently at Leith undergoing repairs. CLANSMAN and ISLE OF ARRAN remain in their present roles, while HEBRIDEAN ISLES carries out an amended service on the Islay route.

The following alterations apply on the relevant timetables.

Friday 4^th. Dep Oban 14.30, Arr Barra 19.45, Dep Barra 18.50, Arr Oban 23.40.

Friday 4^th. Dep Oban 06.00, Arr Tiree 09.25, Dep Tiree 09.45, Arr Coll 10.50, Dep Coll 11.05, Arr Oban 14.05.

The following timetable will operate on the Kennacraig-Islay route on Friday 4^th and Saturday 5^th. Friday.Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  04.15 & 09.45. Dep Port Askaig  15.30.

Saturday.Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  09.45 & 18.00. Dep Port Askaig  04.15 & 15.30.

The two ship service will resume with the scheduled timetable on Sunday 6^th.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

 

01/09/09.

 

HEBRIDES is on her way round to Leith with a badly leaking stern tube. CLANSMAN has taken up service on her routes from Uig to Tarbert and Lochmaddy while ISLE OF ARRAN moves from the Islay route to Oban.

Caledonian MacBrayne are reporting the following alterations to the relevant timetables.

The following timetable, on the service from  Oban to Castlebay and back, will operate on Wednesday 2^nd . Dep Oban 14.30, Arr Barra 19.45, Dep Barra 20.05, Arr Oban 01.05 on Thursday morning.

The following timetable will operate, from Oban to Coll and Tiree, on Tuesday 1^st. Dep Oban 15.00, Arr Coll 17.45, Dep Coll 18.00, Arr Tiree 19.00, Dep Tiree 19.20, Arr Oban 23.00.

On Wednesday 2^nd the following timetable will operate. Dep Oban 06.00, Arr Tiree 09.25, Dep Tiree 09.40, Arr Coll 10.45, Dep Coll 11.00, Arr Oban 14.00.

The following timetable will operate on Wednesday 2^nd between Oban, Colonsay and Port Askaig.Dep Oban 15.30, Arr Colonsay 17.45, Dep Colonsay 18.00, Arr Port Askaig 19.10, Dep Port Askaig 19.20, Arr Colonsay 20.30, Dep Colonsay 20.40, Arr Oban 22.55.

An amended timetable will be operating on the Kennacraig-Islay route until Sunday 6^th.

The following timetable will operate on Tuesday 1^st .

Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  09.45. Dep Port Askaig  04.15 & 15.30.  Wednesday 2^nd. Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  04.15 & 09.45. Dep Port Askaig  15.30.

There will be no 07.45 sailing  from Kennacraig to Port Askaig and Colonsay with the  same day return due to this alteration to the timetable.

Thursday 3^rd. Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  04.15 &  09.45. Dep Port Askaig  15.30.

Friday 4^th. Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  04.15 & 09.45. Dep Port Askaig  15.30.

Saturday 5^th. Dep Kennacraig  07.00, 13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  09.45. Dep Port Askaig  04.15 & 15.30.

Sunday 6^th. Dep Kennacraig  13.00 & 18.00. Dep Port Ellen  09.45. Dep Port Askaig  15.30.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk  

Additional information from Walter Bowie and Stuart McMahon, Scotships.