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NEWS
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31/08/05 |
Loch Bhrusda suffered some sort of technical problem this morning and
missed her 0920 sailing. With the problem sorted the vessel re-entered
service and was reported running approximately 40 minutes late. Her
afternoon sailings will be running to timetable. |
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29/08/05 |
Northlink: Due to the weather conditions
in Orkney this Morning the Hamnavoe has cancelled the 11:00 from
Stromness and the 13:15 from Scrabster. The next scheduled sailing will
depart Stromness at 16:45. |
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25/08/05 |
Clansman was once again loading via her bow ramp upon her return to
Tiree this evening.
Saturn finished her duties as second Ardrossan - Brodick ferry this
afternoon, bidding farewell to Caledonian Isles with a blast on her
horn off Brodick. She then returned via the Largs Channel to Gourock,
awaiting her next turn of duty over the weekend, spending Friday with
Juno on the Gourock - Dunoon run, operating as second vessel. On
Saturday all three streakers will operate a 20 minute service to Dunoon,
with Bute going solo at Rothesay. Sunday will see Juno take up
the second Rothesay roster with Bute while Saturn will take
over as main Dunoon ferry, operating with Jupiter. After this it is
expected that Jupiter will become spare for much of the rest of the
season. |
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23/08/05 |
An unseasonal spell of bad weather has swept across Scotland through the day
and a number of routes have seen some disruption. Saturn had her
additional Arran sailings cancelled although Caledonian Isles is
reported to be running as normal. The evening sailing to Port Ellen was
diverted to Port Askaig, meaning tomorrow's 0945 to Kennacraig will instead
sail from there as opposed to Port Ellen as timetabled. Lord of the Isles
remained in Oban, her 1530 to Lochboisdale and Castlebay being cancelled. As
a result her return sailing tomorrow morning will not run. For disruption
updates see the external link above. Back on the Clyde, Bute was
observed at Gourock for bunkering and using the linkspan while Juno
was away to Dunoon. Loch Riddon was also at Gourock for a time this
afternoon and was then reported to be at Rothesay by 1600. |
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NorthLink: The race for the Northern
Isles contract is beginning to gather momentum with representatives from
both V-Ships and Caledonian MacBrayne visiting the Northern Isles this week.
Both Companies are though to be on a fact finding assignment, contacting
customers and islanders about the current service. Meanwhile the
Hamnavoe berthed stern into Stromness today probably in preparation for
the forecasted high winds. In bad weather it is easier for the Hamnavoe
to berth stern at Stromness and bow at Scrabster which is the opposite from
the usual arrangement. |
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19/08/05 |
Clansman took this afternoon's Oban - Craignure sailings while
Isle of Mull took the scheduled Outer Isles sailing. This allowed
Clansman to sail from Oban at 2000 after her last arrival from Mull,
bound for Tiree where she will collect livestock and then return in the
early hours. |
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15/08/05 |
Raasay is presently in dry dock at Corpach. (See
www.scottishboatyard.co.uk - external link) She will undergo sea trials
either end of next week or beginning of following week. Then it is presumed
Canna will be relieved by Raasay so that she can go to Corpach
for annual overhaul. |
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14/08/05 |
Jupiter has suffered some sort of mechanical problem and as a result
the 1300 ex Wemyss Bay sailing and 1345 ex Rothesay sailing are not running
today. |
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Other News From
ClydeShipping... |
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The new Calmac "Hong-Kong" gangway costing about £500,000 for Bute at
Rothesay and only commissioned a few weeks ago, is due to be scrapped within
about 2 years.
When the route goes to end-loading at Rothesay, access to the ferry will be
via a new bridge to be built from the upper floor of existing pier buildings
directly onto the ferry.
Passenger access to the pier buildings will be down the centre leg of
Rothesay Harbour, beside the old weighbridge. A new footbridge will be built
to connect this leg onto the existing pier. |
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11/08/05 |
Unusually the Clansman returned from Barra to Tiree this evening and
berthed bow-in at the linkspan to load up vehicles for Oban. Normally she
berths stern-in at all her island ports and then bow-in at Oban, although
this evening it looked as though she would be going stern-in at Oban. |
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04/08/05 |
Clansman is still out of service with mechanical problems and as a
result Hebridean Isles has taken the 0900 service to Tiree and Barra.
The sailings on the Islay service marked as 'additional' in the timetable
will therefore presumably not sail as Isle of Arran will be covering
the main roster. See the external link for updates as they are made
available. Update: Clansman returned to service and
sailed from Oban this afternoon (approx 16:00 TBC). She made for Tiree where
she shared Gott Bay with Hebridean Isles which was returning from
Barra. Clansman was first to the pier where she unloaded the relief
ferry's crew cars before loading Oban-bound traffic and then moved off to
sit out of the way. Hebridean Isles then came to the linkspan and
unloaded her vehicles before loading her crew cars and sailing for Port
Askaig, ready to resume her normal duties tomorrow. Clansman then
returned to the pier at Scarinish and loaded the remaining Oban-bound cars
dropped off by the relief vessel. (Thanks to Alan Neill for his first
hand account!)
It is unclear whether Clansman will require further attention in
dry dock in future weeks - there are reports that the rudder repairs are a
short-term solution.
In other news the contract for the other new Rothesay ferry, Bute's
sister vessel, was again awarded to a foreign yard. It is interesting to
note that they describe the Bute and her sister-to-be as having a
deep draught of 5 metres. Calmac have also confirmed that tendering is
shortly to begin for the new 24-car ferry which is to replace Loch Riddon
on the Largs - Cumbrae route. The mention of the 24 car capacity would
suggest the end result being something not too dissimilar to Loch Alainn,
although time will tell... |
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03/08/05 |
Clansman was unable to perform her 0600 sailing to Coll and Tiree due
to mechanical problems. We have had reports this is due to rudder trouble
although these are not confirmed. She has spent the day lying at Oban
Railway Pier. It is not as yet known if she will be able to take tomorrow's
0900 sailing to Tiree and Castlebay. As a result there were significant
changes to the timetables today involving Hebridean Isles performing
an Oban - Coll - Tiree - Barra - Oban sailing following her arrival in Oban
from Islay and Colonsay. Lord of the Isles made an extra call at Coll
on this morning's crossing from the Outer Isles to Oban and her Castle
Cruise was then cancelled this afternoon. Instead she sailed for Colonsay
and then proceeded direct to Tiree and will return to Oban shortly before
0100. With Hebridean Isles playing relief vessel, the scheduled
sailing from Port Askaig to Kennacraig has been replaced with the Isle of
Arran on a 2030 service from Port Ellen. For up-to-date information, see
the external link above to Calmac's webiste service notices page... |
|
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