| 31/03/05 |
Gourock - Dunoon sailings this morning have been noted as 'passenger only'
suggesting a problem with one of the Streakers or linkspan. More updates
as and when. |
|
|
| 26/03/05 |
The summer timetable has begun, with all vessels where they should be. Hebrides
returned from overhaul, letting Sister Clansman back to Oban. Clansman
now on Coll-Tiree roster, while Lord of the Isles on Barra-Lochboisdale
roster.
Isle of Arran now based at the wires until she is required at
Islay. She is seen here today at the wires having general maintenance.
|
Isle of Arran at the wires, Gourock. |
|
|
|
| 24/03/05 |
Eigg is still on the Jura service after early accounts of her
return to Oban. Clansman Should be returning to Oban today, as
Hebrides
left
Birkenhead
on Tuesday night for Uig. The Summer Timetable is due to start tomorrow
morning.
Lord of the Isles will make the Barra-Lochboisdale sailing
this afternoon for her to be in position for the start of the timetable. Clansman
will be in Oban ready for the Coll-Tiree sailing on Friday morning.
Isle of Arran moved from JWD this morning to Gourock. She then
underwent trials at both Gourock and Dunoon Breakwater for the up and
coming cover of the Streakers. She was sighted around 16:10 at
Dunoon undergoing various manoeuvres. She duly completed these trials and
returned to the wires for completion of her Overhaul. Hebrides
returned to Tarbert, Harris last night (Wednesday 23rd) for completion of her overhaul. She
then made for Lochmaddy this morning to relieve her twin sister, Clansman
so she could return to Oban.
|
Eigg Departing Port Askaig for Feolin.
Isle of Arran Departing JWD. |
|
|
| 23/03/05 |
Loch Alainn returned to Largs this morning from the wires, Ready
for Friday morning. Isle of Cumbrae is no longer at Largs, Loch
Tarbert was still covering at lunch time before the Loch Alainn
returned. Loch Tarbert will presumably return to Lochranza ready
for Friday. Caledonian Isles will make a positioning run on Thursday
night for the start of the summer timetable on Friday morning. She will
return from Brodick to Ardrossan after Thursdays sailings. This is non-book able
run, but she will carry passengers and Vehicles.
Isle of Arran was receiving her final touches to her overhaul
today, and testing of lifeboat and FRC systems in JWD. |
Loch Alainn on-route to Largs. |
|
|
| 22/03/05 |
Loch Linnhe is now back on the Tobermory - Kilchoan route while
Raasay is back in Oban as the spare vessel. Eigg is now reported to be
back on her own station at Lismore. Isle of Arran moved from the JW
Dry Dock to the Wet Dock sometime this morning which suggests that her
annual overhaul is nearing completion. Loch Alainn is reported to
be at the wires, Gourock possibly making her way back to Largs to resume
her service. |
| |
|
| 21/03/05 |
Coruisk is now reported to be on her way back to Mallaig to begin
her summer timetable. Loch Alainn is still reported to be in JWD
tonight. During the day she underwent Ramp trails in the dock itself.
Meanwhile both the Loch Tarbert and the Isle of Cumbrae
appear to be at Largs covering for her.
Correction, Loch Tarbert was lying at inside berth on cover
NOT with Isle of Cumbrae. |
| |
|
| |
Other News: Western Ferries Sound
of Scarba underwent betting trails at Dunoon's new linkspan today. It
is reported that the Isle of Arran will be undergoing trails at the
new linkspan on Thursday after she appears from JWD and her overhaul. |
| |
|
| 19/03/05 |
Loch Alainn will be moving to Largs tomorrow about midday allowing
the smaller relief vessel Loch Tarbert to return to Rothesay for a
few days. |
| |
|
| 17/03/05 |
Isle of Cumbrae was scheduled to go from
Rothesay to Tarbert, on Thursday 24th March, to relieve Loch
Riddon, which would then go to Largs, leaving both vessels in place
for the start of the summer timetable on 25th. However due to mechanical
problems Isle of Cumbrae is due to travel to Tarbert, today, to
relieve Loch Riddon which will then head for Gigha to relieve
Loch Ranza which is suffering from engine problems and is thought to
be returning to the Clyde for repairs. |
| |
|
| |
 "Ferry
Deal to go to RMT Executive" |
| |
|
| 16/03/05 |
Coruisk sailed from the wires at Gourock to join Loch Alainn
in JWD where she will be having her gangway docking 'ears' removed prior
to sailing to Mallaig ready to take over the summer Armadale service.
Coruisk's ears are extensions to her superstructure to allow her to
use the new passenger gangways on the Clyde. They have to be removed to
allow her to operate in the extreme tidal conditions at Mallaig - her
summer roster. |
Coruisk's 'ears' being removed. |
|
Eigg,
back from her overhaul at Corpach, is now located at Port Askaig on relief
for the Council-owned Eilean Dhuira. Bruernish continues to
cover on the Oban - Lismore route. |
|
|
| 13/03/05 |
Following damage sustained on Thursday in the gales, Loch
Alainn was taken out of service and made for JWD for repairs by Garvel.
Loch Tarbert was sent over from Rothesay to take the Cumbrae
sailings this afternoon. |
|
Elsewhere, low tides were
affecting certain routes, with disruptions on the Sound of Harris and
Fishnish - Lochaline crossings for a time. |
|
|
| 11/03/05 |
We have just been notified that
the Isle of Lewis will remain in Ullapool from now until Monday
morning and the Muirneag will not sail until Monday due to very heavy
swells expected in the Minch. The Tarbert-Uig serviced by the Clansman is
expected to run on Saturday as timetabled. |
| |
|
| |
NorthLink: Due to the continued poor weather in the North the
Hamnavoe is not making any more sailings Today (11/03). The next
scheduled sailing is Tomorrow (12/03) at 9:00, however this sailing is
currently under review. The Hamnavoe did make a return trip from
Stromness this morning. Due to the conditions she has been forced to berth
stern first at both Scrabster and Stromness, normally stern at Scrabster and
bow at Stromness. |
| |
|
| |
Other
News: This months Ships Monthly
(March) features an article on Hamnavoe's current Master. The NorthLink
skipper Robert Johnston gives an interview to the Magazine which is
available in all good stores. |
| |
|
| 10/03/05 |
Due to engine problems with Loch
Riddon, the Tarbert - Portavadie service is suspended until further
notice. Check with the local CalMac office or on the external link above
for updates on this service. |
|
|
| 07/03/05 |
Hebrides arrived at A&P
Birkenhead today for her annual overhaul. She is one of the first vessels to
use the newly refurbished Monks ferry dry dock for refit by North western
ship repairs. |
| |
|
| 06/03/05 |
Loch Fyne today covered on a freight
run for the Bruernish who is in turn covering for Eigg on the
Lismore roster. Bruernish's crew is unable to see over tall
HGV's unlike her modified sister Eigg. Loch Fyne carried two
wagons across to the island in a special sailing for her smaller fleet mate.
Eigg continues to be on the slip at Corpach for her annual overhaul.
Her web url and Gaelic name are now being reapplied. It would appear she
will be off the slip in the next few days. |
Loch Fyne in Oban Bay. |
| |
|
| |
Clansman has now departed the Mersey
after completing her annual overhaul. |
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|
| |
Bute now has her bridge and funnels in
place and her fitting out is now underway at her ship yard. |
Bute's Bridge in Place. |
| |
|
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NorthLink:
Apart from the odd cancellation and the refit schedule there have only been
a few minor things to cover at the moment. NorthLink Freight ships in
Aberdeen have been using the 3rd linkspan operated by Nor Cargo at Mathews
Quay. This is due to a problem at the Eurolink after the Hascosay
came into contact with it. One slight oddity today (Mon 7th) in that the
Clare is at Hatston in place of the Hascosay. The Clare
also covered the Hascosay's Monday Orkney visit last week also. |
| |
|
| 04/03/05 |
It is expected that Juno will be
leaving JWD for Gourock later this morning. Following trials, she will
berth at the wires where Isle of Arran has been for the last few
weeks. |
Eigg nearing the end of her current overhaul. |
| |
| Isle of Arran will be heading for her
own overhaul later today. |
| |
| It is anticipated that Juno will re-enter service on Tuesday, and
as she is the final streaker to complete her overhaul, Coruisk's
turn of duty on the Clyde will be complete for the winter. |
| |
| Eigg is nearing the end of her current
overhaul at Corpach, fleet mate and spare Oban vessel Bruernish has
been maintaining her rota while she sits half in / out of the slip way due
to her bridge extension. |
|
|
| 02/03/05 |
The centre bridge window on Clansman's
wing is now the same length as the side two. She was refloated today and is
now gleaming, receiving the finishing touches to paintwork in Canada Dock,
Liverpool. It is likely that the Hebrides is to take her annual
overhaul on the Mersey after she is relieved by the Clansman. Back on
the Clyde, Loch Portain has completed her overhaul and has been
towed back from drydock to the adjacent JWD to join Juno. NorthLink: Hrossey
sailed for Denmark at 09:00 on Tuesday and Hjaltland arrived back at
09:20, Tuesday. Hascosay is due to sail to Denmark next Tuesday. All
sailings to / from Denmark are for annual overhauls. |
| |
|
| 01/03/05 |
We have heard that upon her return from her
overhaul in Birkenhead, Clansman will sail straight for the Outer
Hebrides so as to relieve her sister Hebrides for her trip to
drydock. We are not sure where she will be docked, but has previously used
Garvel on the Clyde. |
| |
|
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