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DATE |
NEWS |
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30/06/07 |
Western Isles:
Lord of the Isles was running about 40 minutes late this
evening as she returned from Lochboisdale. She ran side by side with
Isle of Mull between Craignure and Duart Castle, before passing
through the Lismore gap and slowing to allow the Mull ferry to arrive at
Oban before her. Once the Isle of Mull had left at 2000, Lord
of the Isles then berthed about an hour behind schedule. |
Lord of the Isles waiting to berth at Oban this
evening |
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27/06/07 |
Western Isles:
Update 1030:
Loch Ranza
is currently out of service with a technical fault. It is unclear
when she will return to service on the Tayinloan - Gigha
crossing.
Updates to follow. |
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25/06/07 |
Western Isles:
Update 1400:
Loch Bhrusda
is now back in service after a minor technical problem delayed her.
She departed 1340ex Eriskay. |
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24/06/07 |
Clyde:
Ardrossan - Brodick (Caledonian Isles, Saturn):
Cancelled today due to adverse weather the 1830 Saturn sailing
from Ardrossan.
A decision regarding the 0715 Saturn sailing from Brodick
tomorrow morning will be made at 0530 tomorrow morning Monday the 25th
June 07. |
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18/06/07 |
Clyde:
Loch Alainn moved from her recent lay-up berth at the wires
this afternoon and left Gourock at 1220. She initially headed down past
Dunoon before turning towards Rothesay and then proceeded up to
Ardmaleish and the boatyard where she was slipped, making her the
largest CalMac vessel to use the facility to date.
Western Isles:
Update 2125:
Clansman is currently berthed bow first at Castlebay linkspan, she
usually berths stern first at the island.
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Loch Alainn leaving Gourock today |
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Other News:
The Smyril Line ferry Norrona berthed
at Scrabster Today, her first call on her new Torshavn - Bergen
schedule. She also made her first call at Lerwick on 20th May. |
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17/06/07 |
Clyde:
Saturn appears to be enjoying generous amounts of
traffic on her secondary Ardrossan - Brodick route.
She is seen opposite today backing into Ardrossan main linkspan.
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay (Argyle, Bute):
Due to technical reasons the 0930
from Rothesay and the 1015 from Wemyss Bay have been cancelled.
Unknown which vessel at present. |
Saturn at Ardrossan today |
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16/06/07 |
Past Fleet News - On This Day...
In 2005 Oban Terminal was given the go-ahead to commence
work on a new 2nd linkspan for the port.
Engineering works are still currently under construction.
Oban Terminal (internal link) |
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15/06/07 |
Clyde:
Colintraive - Rhubodach (Loch Dunvegan):
Service maybe subject to disruption or cancellation due to adverse
weather today.
Claonaig - Lochranza (Loch Tarbert):
Due to adverse weather conditions this service is the subject of
delays for the remainder of the day. |
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13/06/07 |
Western Isles:
Lord of the Isles followed Isle of Mull over to
Craignure this afternoon, after finishing her day's rostered sailings at
1420. She arrived and berthed on the south face of Craignure pier at
1650 and will remain there until early tomorrow morning. With
Hebridean Isles now able to resume her normal summer Wednesday
sailings up to Colonsay and Oban, Lord of the Isles sees no
action between arriving from Barra and South Uist on Wednesday
afternoons until her departure for Colonsay at 0900 on Thursday
mornings. With the second berth in Oban still unavailable, she is
expected to use Craignure as an overnight berth on Wednesdays throughout
the summer. |
Lord of the Isles seen from
Isle of Mull at 1703 |
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12/06/07 |
Western Isles:
Kennacraig - Port Ellen / Port Askaig (Hebridean
Isles, Isle of Arran):
The following sailings are still disrupted after the partial opening
of Port Askaig Terminal:
1800 ex Kennacraig - Port Askaig (Mondays & Fridays)
0700 ex Port Askaig - Kennacraig (Tuesdays & Saturdays)
Both sailings will operate from Port Ellen for the foreseeable future.
Terminals:
Port Askaig:
While the linkspan is back in operation, it is currently unavailable
as an overnight berth. The Eilean Dhuira currently uses the pier in case
of emergency overnight ambulance runs to Jura and will continue to do so
until the next phase of the redevelopment, involving a new Jura ferry
slipway is complete. |
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11/06/07 |
Western Isles:
Hebridean Isles is on her way up to Port Askaig, she now appears to be
visible on AIS Live (see opposite). Fleet mate Clansman is also noted to
be visible at Tiree on AIS.
Raasay has been running backwards and forwards between Tobermory and Oban
recently, presumably to cover for the technical difficulties the Loch Linnhe
is currently encountering. Her sister, Eigg also currently requires some
minor maintenance.
 Note:
If you are trying to view the Island Class vessels on AIS, they are
not visible because they fall under the minimum tonnage that requires
the fitting of AIS. |
Hebridean Isles
en Route To Port Askaig
Hamnavoe Enjoying Crowds of
Summer Passengers Recently |
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10/06/07 |
Clyde:
Saturn & Jupiter called to each
other as Saturn headed downriver today. Saturn was then
noted heading south passing Skelmorlie at 1730 tonight bound Ardrossan.
Her extra service will run from Monday 11 June to
Tuesday 28 August (See Below).
Jupiter meantime appears to be settling in on her stint on the
Gourock - Dunoon roster resplendent after her recent overhaul.
Loch Alainn continues to sit at the Wires Spare berth at Gourock
awaiting her move north to Barra to displace the Loch Bhrusda.
Ardrossan
- Brodick (Caledonian Isles, Saturn):
The extra scheduled sailings utilising spare Clyde ferry Saturn
will run from Monday 11 June to Tuesday 28 August.
Timetable Below:
Monday - Sunday
0715 ex Brodick - Ardrossan (except Sat & Sun)
0900 ex Ardrossan - Brodick
1030 ex Brodick - Ardrossan
1330 ex Ardrossan - Brodick
1545 ex Brodick - Ardrossan
1830 ex Ardrossan - Brodick |
Jupiter Passing Gourock Pool
Saturn Passing Skelmorlie Tonight
Loch Alainn at Gourock Today |
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08/06/07 |
Terminals:
Port Askaig:
Hebridean Isles performed berthing trails today at Port Askaig.
They were understood to be successful and all afternoon sailings will
resume from Port Askaig as of Monday 11th June. There is still a lot of
work to be done inside the passenger terminal, the next phase however
will be for the council operated Jura ferry & then the new terminal
facilities. |
Hebridean Isles
at Port Askaig Today |
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Clyde:
Saturn is due to take up the secondary Ardrossan - Brodick
summer roster this weekend. She is expected at Gourock to load crew cars
then berth overnight at Brodick with a arrival to be timed after
Caledonian Isles departs at 1920 on Sunday. She will commence the 3A
roster from Monday 11th June.
Saturn and Juno are still tied up at Rosneath. Saturn,
as mentioned above will commence her summer Arran roster on Monday. The
fate for her older sister still awaits her.
Updates as and when.
Loch Riddon still solders on at Largs while her much larger and
newer fleet mate Loch Shira continues to settle in.
Loch Alainn still awaits her move to Barra at Gourock Wires. |
Saturn & Juno at Rosneath Today
Loch Riddon at Cumbrae Slip Today |
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07/06/07 |
Clyde:
Loch Shira suffered some technical difficulties this
morning with what is unconfirmed to be her start up mechanics. Loch
Riddon coped with a backlog of traffic as it was decided the Loch
Alainn was un-required to dash back to Largs from Gourock to cover.
Loch Shira appeared to be back in service by 1000.
Other News:
Shetland Islands Council ferry Dagalien was in Kirkwall
today en route north to Shetland after a overhaul.
Past Fleet News - On This Day...
In 2006 Isle of Lewis was withdrawn from service due to
suspected Norovirus affecting 8 of the crew. All Ullapool - Stornoway
traffic was diverted to the Uig - Tarbert roster using the
Lord of the Isles which dashed from Oban to assist Hebrides
with additional traffic. |
Dagalien at Kirkwall |
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06/06/07 |
Clyde:
Loch Shira has appeared to have settled down into
service on her Largs - Cumbrae roster nicely.
Western Isles:
Oban -
Colonsay - Port Askaig - Kennacraig (Lord of the Isles):
Due to essential Pier Work at Port Askaig all sailings will operate
to & from Oban.
A temporary timetable from Oban - Colonsay will operate today using
Lord of the Isles:
1530 dep Oban
1750 arr Colonsay
1805 dep Colonsay
2025 arr Oban
Kennacraig - Port Askaig - Colonsay (Hebridean Isles):
Due to essential Pier Work at Port Askaig all sailings will operate to &
from Port Ellen.
A temporary timetable from Kennacraig - Colonsay will operate today:
0745 dep Kennacraig
1005 arr Port Ellen
1025 dep Port Ellen
1305 arr Colonsay
1720 dep Colonsay
2000 arr Port Ellen
2020 dep Port Ellen
2240 arr Kennacraig
Terminals:
Port Askaig:
More berthing trails are set for this Friday 08th June at the new linkspan.
The Pictures opposite show the new roundhead and it in its stowage position,
the works vessel Margaret Sinclair alongside. |
Loch Shira Today
Crossing to Largs
Port Askaig's New Pier / Roundhead
Port Askaig's New Linkspan |
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05/06/07 |
Clyde:
Jupiter is now back on the Gourock - Dunoon route from
around lunchtime today.
Saturn has arrived at Rosneath Jetty and is tied
up outboard of Juno.
NorthLink Ferries (Freight):
Due to technical difficulties, Clare is not due to arrive in Aberdeen
until early evening on Tuesday 05 June. |
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02/06/07 |
Clyde:
Loch Shira's delayed entry into service yesterday is
due to take place this morning.
Update:
Loch Shira successfully completed her first run this morning.
She departed at 0645 from Largs on her 'maiden
voyage'.
Loch Alainn departed Largs at 0615 for the Wires at Gourock, she
soon after arrived for a short lay-up before moving to Barra.
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Loch Shira's First Run Today |
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Company News:
Fairplay 1 June 2007
UK Yards in CalMac Newbuild Bid
GLASGOW 01 June - Two UK shipyards - Ferguson Brothers and Appledore -
are among seven European yards invited to tender for an 85m-long ferry
urgently need by CalMac, the Scottish Executive-owned operator, for its
service between Kennacraig and Port Ellen on the Scottish island of
Islay. At least one is known to be in Poland. The £20M ($39.5M) vessel
will have a capacity of more than 60 cars and about 500 passengers. A
CalMac spokesman told Fairplay the company needed the vessel urgently
because demand is strong, but the shortage of building slots means it is
unlikely to be in service until 2010. A relief ship is contributing to a
two-ship service. CalMac is the only bidder left in the tender for the
Clyde and Western Isles ferry services, routes that CalMac already
operates. The Scottish Executive said it is "proceeding with the tender
in the hope of having a new contract in place by October." |
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01/06/07 |
Western Isles:
SoC
Live! Update 1500:
Raasay is now moored up in Tobermory Bay where she has been since
1400 today.
It looks like the new linkspan at Port Askaig wont be
open for a little while yet, the temporary Wednesday timetable as noted
previously will be in effect again this Wednesday 06/06/07.
For times see Fleet News for 30/05/07. Times will be published again on
06th.
Clyde:
Loch Shira was sue to enter
commercial service today but due to unforeseen circumstances she will
now start tomorrow morning at 0645.
She is on her way down from Gourock and
sailed past McInroys Point around 1900 this evening presumably bound for
Fairlie for the night.
It is anticipated that Loch Alainn will then shortly after move
to Barra for the Eriskay crossing. She is thought to require some small
steel work alterations prior to her move though.
Company News:
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has opened a new facility in Fort
William to develop key aspects of its business in the Lochaber area and
beyond. The CalMac Tourshop, which is located in the Fort William
transport interchange, opened this week and will offer the full range of
CalMac’s booking, ticketing and marketing facilities.
NorthLink Ferries:
NorthLink Ferries will invest another £50,000 over the next six months
in supporting local charities, events, athletes and artists in the
Northern Isles.
The sponsorship funding will take the form of free travel and discounted
fares and will benefit several individuals and organisations in Orkney
and Shetland. Since 2002, NorthLink has donated more than £400,000 in
sponsorship funds. |
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