| DATE |
NEWS |
| 29/04/06 |
Clyde:
Caledonian Isles departed Brodick at 1405 and is expected to
arrive in Ardrossan at 1500. She should have been in Ardrossan at 1445
and out again at 1515. |
| |
|
| 28/04/06 |
Terminals:
Due to engineering work on the railway line between Inverkip and Wemyss
Bay between Monday 1 May and Friday 5 May, CalMac have been advised by
First Scotrail that train services will terminate at Inverkip and a
replacement bus will operate between Inverkip and Wemyss Bay. Due to
the timing of the bus, CalMac have agreed with First Scotrail to delay
the 1945 departure from Wemyss Bay by 10 minutes and on Friday the 2040
sailing, again by 10 minutes.
Past Fleet:
PS Waverly did not make Port
Ellen on her Western Isles tour today due to adverse weather / wind. |
| |
|
| 25/04/06 |
Western Isles:
Sound of Harris Route.
Due to adverse weather
conditions and low tides, the 12.05 sailing from Berneray and the 13.30
sailing from Leverburgh have been cancelled.
Hebridean Isles was late coming in to Port Ellen tonight
due to adverse weather. She did not berth until approx 2040.
Past Fleet:
On Friday 28th April the PS Waverly is due in to Port
Ellen on her Western Isles tour. |
Hebridean Isles delayed arrival |
| |
|
| 24/04/06 |
Western Isles:
Loch Bhrusda remained on Roster
until 1340 when the adverse weather caught up with her. As did the
Loch Striven at Raasay, she remained on Roster until 1745.
Sound of Harris Route. Due to Low Tides, the following
sailings are cancelled:
Wednesday 26/4 Dep Lev @ 1205 Dep Bern @ 1330
Thursday 27/4 Dep Bern @ 1205 Dep Lev @ 1330
Friday 28/4 Dep Bern @ 1040 Dep Lev @1205 & Friday 28/4 Dep Bern
@ 1330 Dep Lev @ 1445 Alternative sailings for Friday only: Depart Bern
0940 Dep Lev 1050
Isle of Lewis was storm bound at Ullapool
this afternoon due to adverse weather.
Lochnevis didn't make Eigg due to the bad weather conditions -
she returned to Mallaig.
Clyde:
Alicat missed the 1745 / 1815 due to adverse
weather. She spent time resting at Dunoon. Coruisk also fell
victim to the adverse conditions, she came off Roster at 1441. Loch
Tarbert missed her 1430 / 1505 and 1545 / 1630 sailing due to the
bad weather. She resumed her roster at 1715 but unable to berth
Claonaig. She returned to Lochranza and remained there for the rest of
the day. |
| |
|
| 23/04/06 |
Clyde:
Bute swapped from the No 2A Roster which she was on until 1420,
to the No 2 Roster from 1515. Juno followed suit swapping from
the No 2 Roster at 1505 to the No 2A Roster at 1600. |
| |
|
| 20/04/06 |
Western Isles:
Hebridean Isles was late departing Port Askaig this afternoon.
This delay was caused on her outward run from Kennacraig when she
was 35 minutes late due to a ballast problem. She caught up 10
minutes by the time she left Port Askaig and then made up time later
in the day and was in at Port Ellen tonight
at 2020.
Clyde:
It is expected that Jupiter is bound for the Garvel dry-dock for
her annual overhaul on the 28th of this month. Confirmation to follow. |
Hebridean Isles arriving at Port Ellen |
| |
|
| 17/04/06 |
Muirneag arrived on the Mersey this morning at 1130 for her annual overhaul.
She later entered and docked in Dry-Dock number 6.
Western Isles:
Isle of Arran took over the double
freight service at 0030 Stornoway-Ullapool and back today. She is
expected to give two freight runs nightly:
1800 ex Stornoway & 2145 ex Ullapool
0130 ex Stornoway & 0515 ex Ullapool |
Muirneag Arrives on the Mersey |
| |
|
| 16/04/06 |
Western Isles:
Muirneag left Stornoway
yesterday at 2100, passing the inbound Isle of Arran heading
into port to take over on the freight runs from Ullapool -
Stornoway. |
| |
|
| 15/04/06 |
Clyde:
Bute made for Gourock this afternoon to berth at company HQ to
undergo planned work by divers on her hull. She is expected to take up
roster again at 1010 tomorrow ex Rothesay.
Past Fleet:
A message from Loch Lomond Steamship Company director John Beveridge is
that the slipping of the Maid of the Loch at Balloch is now
scheduled for Wednesday 26th April - delay due to longer than
anticipated underwater work The 'Maid' is currently undergoing
restoration work. She was a one time member of the CSP Fleet disposed
of in 1982. |
| |
|
| 14/04/06 |
Western Isles / Clyde:
Isle of Arran departed Brodick this morning around 0800 and
sailed direct to Port Askaig. She's was noted en route to Kennacraig at
1830.
Past Fleet:
The veteran and one time CalMac fleet member, Waverley maid her
first sailing of the season today with a trip down the Clyde to
Rothesay. The preserved paddler's summer schedule can be found on her
website. Check the links page for more
information. |
Waverley & Bute at Rothesay |
| |
|
| 13/04/06 |
Clyde:
Caledonian Isles departed Ardrossan at 1835 and is expected to
arrive in Brodick at approx 1930. She will then depart again for
Ardrossan as soon as possible to help clear the back logs of traffic
created with her recent absence and her smaller relief's capacity.
Western Isles:
Isle of Arran is due to leave Ardrossan today bound for Islay. She is to
undertake a few Freight rosters before retuning north to Stornoway to
relieve Muirneag allowing the freight ship to go for annual
overhaul. |
| |
|
| 12/04/06 |
Clyde:
Isle of Cumbrae relieved Loch Riddon on the Tarbert -
Portavadie service on the afternoon of Thursday 30th
March. Loch Riddon moved to Largs as second vessel for summer
service on Thursday 30th March.
Loch Bhrusda sailed from Largs on completion of ramp trails to
Campbeltown to overnight on Saturday 8th April.
Western Isles:
Loch Bhrusda sailed on Sunday morning for Tobermory to overnight
before heading out to Barra on Monday. Loch Linnhe, relieved by
Loch Bhrusda, headed from Barra back to Tobermory on Monday 10th
April, to relieve Raasay.
Northern Ireland:
Raasay sailed from Tobermory to Ballycastle on Tuesday 11th
April, to relieve Canna. Canna was due to sail on Wednesday
for Corpach, possibly via Oban for overnight stop. |
| |
|
| 08/04/06 |
Clyde:
Following her recent gearbox repairs, Loch Bhrusda
left JWD and was berthed at Largs outer berth adjacent to Loch
Riddon this afternoon. She will next return to the Sound of
Barra and let the Loch Linnhe move back to Tobermory for her
summer employment.Western Isles:
The Hebridean Isles is to undertake an extra sailing tonight due to the normally large United Auctions Easter sale on Islay. There is a vast amount of floats due in and out of the
island's
southern Port.
The sailing is departing Kennacraig at
1800s, arriving Port Ellen 2020, dep Port Ellen at 2045 arr Kennacraig
2305. There is also an extra on Sunday morning dep Kennacraig at 0700
arr Port Ellen 0920, and sticking to the normal Sunday Sailings
throughout the rest of the day.
These sailings can be booked
in the normal way for the public as noted on CalMac posters about
Islay. |
Lochs Alainn, Bhrusda and Riddon at Largs
this afternoon |
| |
|
| 07/04/06 |
Clyde:
After undergoing a deep clean by external specialists,
Caledonian Isles returned to service this afternoon on the
Ardrossan - Brodick route, albeit running a reported 40 minutes late
at one point. Her relief, Isle of Arran, lay at the old Burns
and Laird berth
having completed her spell of emergency relief duty.
Loch Tarbert was off service for a spell this afternoon due
to mechanical problems but resumed the Claonaig - Lochranza roster
with the 1545 from Lochranza.
Western Isles:
After arrival at Oban, Clansman was taken out of service
with engine problems, she vacated the linkspan and headed to the
lighthouse pier. As a result at 1600 Lord of the Isles took the
mull roster at 1600 / 1700, 1800 / 1900 as at one point she may have
had to go out to Barra. Isle of Mull thus hovered in the harbour
until 1605 after her 1500 Mull run and then took the 1700 to Colonsay.
Lord of the Isles went back on schedule with the 2230 Craignure
run and Clansman (after her fault was fixed) sailed on a
delayed 1340 sailing at 2000 to Barra- due 0100 / 0120 arr Oban 0620
Sat. |
Isle of Arran turning for Brodick
Clansman @ Lighthouse Berth |
| |
|
| 05/04/06 |
Western Isles:
Lochan was chartered for one day
from Bruce Watt in lieu of Lochnevis who was out of
service. She sailed from Mallaig to; Rum - Mallaig - Canna - Rum -
Mallaig.
Clyde:
Caledonian Isles is being withdrawn from service for 48 hours
following a number of the crew being struck down by a Norovirus
infection. Steps were taken to eliminate the risk of the infection
spreading, however the time off is required to facilitate
'decontamination' of the vessel. A reduced capacity service to
Brodick will be provided by Isle of Arran which left
Stornoway shortly before lunchtime today bound for Ardrossan. She
will return to her original route for two days, commencing with the
0700 sailing to Brodick. She is later due to relieve Muirneag
on the freight run across the Minch when the regular ship goes for
her overhaul. |
| |
|
| 04/04/06 |
Western Isles:
Lochnevis was off service today with technical problems
today. She will possibly be off tomorrow for further investigation.
Clyde:
It is reported that construction work has finally begun on the new
Cumbrae ferry at the Ferguson's yard in Port Glasgow. This vessel,
still to be named, is due into service during the 2007 season and
will be one of the larger members of the Loch Class, releasing
Loch Riddon to move to the Oban - Lismore route. We will keep
you updated with the newbuild's progress over the coming months
Bute and Juno have been confirmed as the two Bute ferries
this summer rostered on the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay.
NorthLink:
BREAKFASTS AT SEA BENEFIT CANCER CHARITY (external link to
NorthLink.co.uk) |
| |
|
| 03/04/06 |
Caledonian MacBrayne Press Releases:
 Caledonian
MacBrayne name new Rothesay Ferry
Ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that the
name of its new ship to service the Isle of Bute will be Argyle.
The vessel, currently being built by the Remontowa Group in Gdansk,
Poland, is due to enter service at the end of 2006.
The new vessel with a contract value of £9 million will be a
sister-ship for Bute, currently the newest vessel in the CalMac
fleet. She was introduced onto the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay route
in July 2005.
Confirming the name of the new ship today (Monday 3 April), CalMac’s
Chairman, Dr Harold Mills said: “the name
Argyle is
singularly appropriate for the new Wemyss Bay - Rothesay ferry.
It is important for safety reasons that the name is not held by any
other vessel and
Argyle, with the old spelling, fits the bill. MV Argyle will be
the seventh vessel to bear the name. The best known of all the Clyde
paddle steamers named Argyle was actually the successor to the
first Bute on the service from Wemyss Bay to
Rothesay, as well as to Innellan, Largs and Millport. Coincidentally,
the seventh Argyle
will be the sister ship of the seventh
Bute”.
Dr Mills continued: “When Argyle joins
Bute later this
year, the Company will achieve its objective in providing a ferry
service appropriate to the 21st Century. Technical Director
John Kerr said “Like
Bute, the sister vessel is being been built with passenger comfort
in mind. We know from our experience of the
Bute the enhanced
facilities offered and different style of seating arrangement were all
very well received. Bute has set new standards for our commuter
type service and we believe that we are offering both the quality of
onboard facility that the customers of today expect and that we as the
lifeline ferry service provider believe are entitled to”.
The new vessel will be 72m long and 15.3m breadth, with a moulded
depth of 5m. She will able to carry 60 cars and 450 passengers and this
will further increase capacity on CalMac’s busiest route
Further details on Argyle’s progress and her anticipated arrival
on the Clyde will be regularly updated on CalMac’s website,
www.calmac.co.uk.
Caledonian MacBrayne confirms start of enhanced Sound of Harris service
(external link) |
| |
|
| 01/04/06 |
Clyde:
Ardrossan - Brodick
There will again be a two ship operation for Arran this year, repeating
last years introduction of Saturn on the Ardrossan - Brodick
roster. Saturn will join Caledonian Isles again on
Tuesday 27th June and will stay pairing her until Thursday 31st August
2006. Saturn's timetable will roughly consist of the following;
from Monday to Saturday she will take the the first 0715 sailing ex
Brodick and will complete 3 return crossings a day (not Saturdays), the
last being the 1830 sailing ex Ardrossan. On Sundays her first sailing
sailing will be ex Brodick at 1025 and she will undertake 2 return
crossings, the last being the 1830 ex Brodick. A new Ardrossan -
Brodick timetable for this extra service will be published nearer
the time.
(check external link above)
Also at Arran:
From Spring - Autumn 2006 there should be no problems for the BP Oils
tanker berthing at Brodick Depot at night. The tanker berths at the
Ferry Linkspan at Brodick and the Caledonian Isles is scheduled
to berth overnight at Ardrossan, this will allow the Tanker to pump
fuel into the storage tanks at Brodick depot and offload at night. The
tanker should be either the Border Springer Border Heather
or Border Thistle.
Lochranza - Claonaig
From Monday to Saturday the first 0815 sailing ex Lochranza will
operate for 9 return sailings a day, the last being the 1900 sailing ex
Claonaig. Every Sunday the first 0930 sailing will be ex Lochranza for
8 return sailings a day, the last being the 1900 sailing ex Claonaig.
Loch Tarbert will berth overnight at Lochranza.
Caledonian MacBrayne Press Releases:
CalMac in 2007 Already
CalMac achieves Environmental Accreditation
CalMac to Introduce Seven Day Service for Sound of Harris
A Life on the Ocean Wave
Caledonian MacBrayne and JoLomo team up again!
(all above are external links to CalMac's website) |
| |
|
Past News Logs: |
| Click
HERE to see the past fleet news logs |
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