|
DATE |
NEWS |
| 31/08/06 |
Western Isles:
Eigg was performing some sort of Hydraulics test today at
Oban Slipway around 0830 this morning. A tape measure was used to
measure the full length of the unfolded ramp which was done in three
stages. The first stage was lowering the bottom half fully down, the
second lowered the upper half to loading position and the final stage
saw her back out and extend her ramps under the water as far as they
could go, at each stage measuring it.
|
A island class vessel is approaching Corpach passing Fort William at
1620, presumably for overhaul. Updates to follow.
The island class was Canna en route to her annual overhaul at
Corpach. Raasay is now presumably covering for her fleet mate at
Rathlin Island. |
Canna arriving for her overhaul at Corpach
|
| |
Past Fleet:
Today makes the three year anniversary of Pioneer's Farwell
cruise. The special trip from Gourock - Tighnabruaich - Kyles of Bute -
Gourock was a huge hit with her fans, day trippers and a number of other
people just wishing to relive the once popular Clyde cruises the company
performed. |
3 Years Ago Dressed Overall
|
| |
|
| 30/08/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Dunvegan is suffering with ramp problems currently.
Her stern ramp seems to have locked in a position that is parallel to
the vessel with the tips at a 40degree angle. She is currently sailing
single ended berthing bow in at both terminals swinging about mid
channel. |
| |
|
| 29/08/06 |
Western Isles:
Oban - Lochboisdale - Oban
Saturday 9th September 2006
Customers are advised that 0815 sailing Oban to Lochboisdale and the
1350 Lochboisdale to Oban on Saturday 9th September will operate the
following revised schedule due to the forecasted low tidal conditions at
Lochboisdale.
1000 ex Oban arr Lochboisdale 1520.
1540 ex Lochboisdale arr Oban 2100. |
| |
|
| 28/08/06 |
Clyde:
Ardrossan - Brodick
Due to circumstances beyond CalMac's control
the 1515 sailing from Ardrossan was
delayed. Caledonian Isles is due to arrive in Brodick at 1705 and
will depart again as soon as possible. As a result the 1640
sailing from Brodick was delayed. Caledonian Isles departed
Brodick at 1730 and is due to arrive in Ardrossan at 1825 and will
departed again as soon as possible for a return leg.
The reason for the delay was later released by CalMac:
Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne has confirmed that police were
called to an incident at Ardrossan harbour this afternoon which has led
to the detention of a number of individuals.
Hugh Dan MacLennan, CalMac's Head of Communications and Customer Care
said: "I can confirm that the police were called to investigate the
conduct of a number of individuals. This has led to delays in sailings
whilst the matter was being investigated. This included searches of
various areas on the ship and in the immediate vicinity of the terminal.
The police were called soon after the incident took place and the 1515
sailing from Ardrossan to Arran with Caledonian Isles was delayed
by 50 minutes approximately, departing eventually at 1610. There was no
immediate danger to the ship or to passengers and we would like to thank
the customers on board for their understanding and cooperation."
Sailings to and from Ardrossan for the rest of the day are subject to
delay while the ongoing police investigation is concluded.
CalMac has confirmed the following timetable for the Ardrossan - Brodick
service for the rest of the evening:
1800 ex Ardrossan Saturn arrive Brodick 1900
1940 approx Caledonian Isles will depart Brodick for Ardrossan.
Caledonian Isles is currently (1730) en passage from Brodick to
Ardrossan, due to arrive at 1830 approx |
| |
|
| 26/08/06 |
Western Isles:
Oban - Castlebay /
Lochboisdale - timetable change Friday 8th September & Friday 29th
September 2006.
Please note the following alteration to Clansman's
timetable on Fridays 8th & 29th September 2006 to accommodate livestock
traffic from Uist:
dep Castlebay 1850
arr Lochboisdale 2020
dep Lochboisdale 2030
arr Oban 0130 |
| |
|
| 25/08/06 |
Clyde:
COWAL HIGHLAND GATHERING SERVICE - 25 - 27 AUG 2006
Caledonian MacBrayne are pleased to advise customers that additional
sailings will be in place on the following dates:
Friday 25th - 1 extra vessel will operate per hour all day. (2 vessels
per hour).
Saturday 26th - 2 extra vessels will operate all day subject to customer
demand (up to 3 vessels per hr). Last scheduled sailing is 2130 ex
Dunoon.
Sunday 27th - regular Sunday service with additional sailings as
required.
This will supplement the regular Gourock-Dunoon timetable.
(check external link above for updates) |
| |
New Build Update:
Work on the new Largs - Cumbrae vessel (yet to be named) at
Ferguson's on the Clyde seems to have been very slow this summer. The
reason is believed to be that the vessel is not required until Largs
pier rebuild is complete sometime in the spring. |
New Build Today
|
| |
|
| 24/08/06 |
Clyde:
Just a week after returning to normal drive-through
operation, Loch Alainn is out of service once again for nearly
six hours today. She will be brought back into service for 1600 but in
the meantime, Loch Riddon is expected to undertake solo sailings
on the winter timetable.
Saturn left Ardrossan at 1700 after loading crew cars. She is now
heading up river to perform her duties in the highland games ferrying
passengers on the upper Clyde rosters. She is due to return to her
summer Arran station on Monday 28th August. |
Saturn dep Ardrossan Today
|
| |
|
| 23/08/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Tarbert missed her 1315 ex Lochranza and 1350 ex
Claonaig sailings this afternoon due to mechanical problems, however the
timetable resumed with the next round trip.
Saturn was having extreme difficulties with the Irish linkspan at
Ardrossan. This was because the linkspan was down on one side, and it
was hard for the big vehicles to discharge off her car deck. |
Saturn at the Irish Berth Today
|
| |
Western Isles Terminals:
Capt Tony McQuade, Transport Minister Tavish Scott and CalMac's Chairman
along with media and passengers joined Lochnevis today for the
opening of the new slipway at Canna. Lochnevis later
departed Canna at 1435 with 1 commercial, 2 cars & 70 passengers
demonstrating the need for the facilities on the island.
|
| |
Canna's New Slipway Opening Ceremony |
| |
|
| 22/08/06 |
Clyde:
There are changes to Saturn's
additional sailings on the Ardrossan - Brodick service.
This service will stop on Thursday 24th August but will recommence on
Monday 28th August with the 0715 sailing ex Brodick and will run until
the following Monday. The final sailing will be 0715 ex Brodick on
Monday 4th September. Vehicle bookings are now available for these
sailings. |
| |
|
| 21/08/06 |
NorthLink:
Reminder: There are roadwork's currently affecting Aberdeen's Market
Street between the Victoria Bridge and Guild Street junctions. Delays
may affect vehicle drivers and passengers. Please therefore allow plenty
of time to reach the ferry terminal for check in.
Routes Affected:
Aberdeen - Kirkwall - Lerwick
Aberdeen - Lerwick |
| |
|
| 20/08/06 |
Clyde:
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay
A revised timetable is operating on Saturday 26th August 2006
due to the Cowal Highland Gathering.
|
Depart Rothesay |
Depart Wemyss Bay |
|
07 00 |
08 00 |
|
08 45 |
09 25 |
|
10 10 |
11 00 |
|
11 45 |
13 00 |
|
13 45 |
14 30 |
|
15 15 |
16 00 |
|
16 45 |
17 30 |
|
18 15 |
19 00 |
|
19 45 |
20 40 |
For further details, please contact CalMac Wemyss Bay office on 01475
520521 or Rothesay office on 01700 502707 or visit the external link
above.
Western Isles:
Clansman took an extra sailing to Tiree last night for the
cattle sales. After arriving at Scarinish around midnight, she lay at
the pier for about 4 hours. Lord of the Isles was also seen at
Tiree, waiting in Gott Bay for Clansman to vacate the linkspan
before loading the remaining wagons and returning to Oban. |
| |
|
| 18/08/06 |
Western Isles:
Isle of Mull ventured out to Castlebay tonight with the Outer Isles
traffic to allow the Clansman to make for Tiree to assist with
Lambing traffic.
Clyde:
Loch Fyne is the expected relief vessel for the Loch Dunvegan
at Bute when she goes for her annual overhaul. It will be the vessels
first time on the short roster and another chance meeting for the sister
'Super Lochs'. |
| |
|
| 16/08/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Alainn appears to be back to normal now after having her stern
ramp repaired earlier on.
It is expected that the Caledonian Isles will use Aberdeen,
Greenock or Newcastle for her January 2007 overhaul. |
| |
|
| 14/08/06 |
Clyde:
Raasay is now at Corpach receiving attention for her overhaul. She
left her berth at Gourock to make the journey North. |
| |
|
| 12/08/06 |
Four Injured in Ferry Car Crash
The accident happened on the Isle of Skye. Police have confirmed
that four people were taken to hospital after a driver crashed into a
number of cars which were getting on and off a ferry. Extensive damage
was done to four cars when the vehicle went forward into traffic as it
left the boat at Armadale Pier, Sleat, on the Isle of Skye. Northern
Constabulary said the accident happened at about 1700 BST on Friday. The
car, an automatic Kia Sorento, was being driven off the ferry from
Mallaig when it collided with a Saab. It then banged into three other
vehicles parked in a queue waiting to board the boat. Officers said two
people in a car were injured and a woman pedestrian was also hurt. All
three were taken to the MacKinnon Memorial Hospital at Broadford on
Skye, where they were kept in overnight. A man in a vehicle also
involved in the crash was flown to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness as a
precaution because he had recently had heart bypass surgery. A spokesman
for Northern Constabulary said the injuries did not appear to be as
serious as first feared. |
| |
|
| 11/08/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Alainn is still suffering with technical problems with her
'stern' ramp. It is unclear exactly what the problem is. She is
currently sailing one ended using her bow ramp. Cars are having to
board, turn 180degrees at the far end and line up to unload facing the
other way. Two lanes are done this way, the others are loaded then
turned when the first two are unloaded. Loch Riddon is currently
taking any large / long vehicles. |
Loch Alainn This Afternoon
|
| |
|
| 10/08/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Alainn is currently suffering with technical problems with her
ramp. It is estimated she will be back in service around 1600 today.
Past Fleet:
Pioneer, the much followed ex CalMac ferry now renamed Brenda
Corlett has hit the news once more.
See our news feature here for
more information. |
Brenda Corlett ex Pioneer
|
| |
|
| 09/08/06 |
NorthLink:
NorthLink sailings on the Scrabster Stromness route are being affected
by adverse weather and tidal conditions. The 1100 Hamnavoe
sailing from Stromness and the 1315 sailing from Scrabster have both
been cancelled. The 1645 sailing between Stromness and Scrabster has
also been set back to 1730 to allow conditions to improve.
|
| |
|
| 08/08/06 |
NorthLink:
Less than a month after the handover to Caledonian MacBrayne (operating
as NorthLink Ferries Limited) the service from the Scottish mainland to
the Northern Isles has experienced its busiest ever month. In July,
NorthLink carried more than 46,500 passengers to and from Orkney and
Shetland, a figure unsurpassed in the 45 months since NorthLink first
assumed control of the routes.
|
| |
|
| 03/08/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Riddon was continuously running late today with traffic.
Her route partner Loch Alainn kept catching her up on the
Largs - Cumbrae roster so alternative vessels were having to
hold off awaiting each other. |
Busy Largs Today
|
| |
|
| 02/08/06 |
Western Isles:
A reminder to passengers that the recommended ferry connection for
the 0850 First Scotrail train service (until 22 Sept 2006) from
Glasgow Queen Street to Oban is the 1400 Oban - Craignure
sailing. |
| |
|
| 01/08/06 |
Clyde:
1545 sailing this afternoon ex Brodick using Saturn has been
cancelled due to deteriorating weather conditions.
Three Years of SoC Fleet News...
Yes, back in 2003 we started a small report on fleet news with
occasional updates. Now we report almost daily with the latest news
from our many correspondents around the west coast. Our number of
pictures have been boosted using modern technology. We can now
receive 'Live' reports from onboard vessels our correspondents are
on via video and media messaging. So look out for further
enhancements in the coming year... |
| |
|
Past News Logs: |
| Click
HERE to see the past fleet news logs |
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