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DATE
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NEWS |
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30/06/04 |
The Isle of Mull on Wednesday (today) passed Duart Castle at 1130
while crossing to Oban with only one engine. She suffered a breakdown on the
1000 sailing to Craignure. After all passengers and traffic were disembarked
at Mull, she crossed light to Oban where she remained for the rest of the
day being repaired. The 1100 to Oban was cancelled and Clansman
called at Craignure at 1240 enroute to Oban and carried out the 1300 sailing
from Mull. As it was a Wednesday Hebridean Isles was on her way to
Oban from Port Askaig and Colonsay. She sailed straight from Colonsay to
Craignure and departed at 1425 for Oban, passing Clansman off Lismore
lighthouse enroute to Barra via Craignure. |
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24/06/04 |
Due to adverse weather conditions, the Caledonian Isles sailings were
disrupted for a hour in the evening yesterday. The ex MacBrayne's small ship
Lochnell (now a privet vessel) was a casualty of the bad wind
and rain yesterday and drifted form her mooring onto the rocks in Gourock
bay. She turned on her side and almost sank but was later rescued and the
hole was patched, she is due to make a full recovery. |
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23/06/04 |
Lord of the Isles made a call at Craignure (16:15-16:30) during the
Castles Cruise today. She brought back 50 cars to the mainland and left a
further 20 for the Isle of Mull to collect. |
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22/06/04 |
The Loch Linnhe was suffering bow ramp problems on today. After
leaving Kilchoan at 1345, it took three attempts to get the ramp locking
hooks to engage. A lot of 'zig-zagging- course changes were observed on
the way over to Tobermory.
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21/06/04 |
Loch Dunvegan was sailing single ended with traffic using only her
stern ramp (normally used at Colintraive) in operation and vehicles having
to do 3 point turns on the car deck. Not sure what the problem was with the
other ramp, it was possibly Jammed. |
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15/06/04 |
Oban / Craignure Service
Due to mechanical problems on the Isle of Mull
the 0745hrs sailing from Oban and the 0845hrs sailing from Craignure have
been cancelled. As a result the Castles Cruise has also been cancelled. |
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12/06/04
Newbuild Update: |
The front page of the Buteman paper today (Friday 11th June issue),
was about the meeting recently held by Cal-Mac regarding the new Rothesay
ferry. A couple of major issues dominated the meeting, mostly the concerns
about car parking at Wemyss Bay as the car marshalling area is to be
increased to accommodate the larger capacity of vehicles waiting for the
ferry. The second was about the concerns of the loss of Pursers aboard the
Rothesay ferry. Many people are particularly worried that the on-shore
facilities would be unable to cope with large number of people at peak times
and whether people alighting from train would have enough time to buy a
ticket prior to boarding the ferry. However Cal-Mac remain confident that
their shore staff would be able to cope.
The update on the new ferry:
As previously reported, Cal-Mac confirmed that the new Rothesay ferry would
have stabilizers fitted.
At the meeting Cal-Mac said that the new ferry would
i) be powered by Schottel twin propellers;
ii) have its superstructure moved aft by 2.4m to aid with weight
distribution; and
iii) have the officers accommodation and wheelhouse made of aluminium to
help reduce the ship's weight.
Other issues which was out to company officials at the meeting were:
- whether alcohol would be sold aboard;
- possible lengthening of the timetables;
- the reliability of fast lift for the disabled from car deck;
- providing trolleys for mobility-impaired with luggage; and
- any penalty clause if the new ferry was late from her Polish builders. |
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08/06/04 |
Apologies for the absence of fleet news due to emails and website being
down. News as and when will be back to normal now. |
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Not much to report other than the Streaker rota change - Jupiter is
now on Dunoon run (06/06/04). Loch Dunvegan appeared to be having
problems with a sticking ramp on the 6th. |
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The 1600 from Wemyss Bay yesterday appeared not to run due to a mechanical
fault with Juno who was laid up - the 1600 sailing and 1645 return
from Wemyss Bay were cancelled. No indication yet to the problem or outcome
or weather she was back on for the 1730. |
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01/06/04
Disruptions: |
Berneray - Leverburgh Service
The following sailings are cancelled due to
tidal restrictions:
Thursday 3rd June
Dep Bernaray 1205hrs
Dep Leverburgh 1325hrs
Friday 4th June
Dep Bernaray 1325hrs
Dep Leverburgh 1445hrs.
Day Cruises from Uig
Due to tidal restrictions on Thursday
3rd June and Friday 4th June, the Grand North Uist and South of Harris tours
have been cancelled. |
News Logs: |
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