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October Fleet News on SoC:
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DATE
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NEWS - updated by Adam Hiles
+ Stephen Hurst
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25/10/03
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Lord of the Isles started the day at the railway pier in Oban later doing a
14.00 to Craignure. She will then will change over with Clansman there and
will do the 17.00 with clansman berthing there overnight and will depart
10.30 Sunday morning for Stornoway. Isle of Lewis is due at Aberdeen on Monday
morning.
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22/10/03
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Progress is well underway with MV Lochnevis, currently in Garvel dry
dock.
MV Coruisk departed this afternoon for Ferguson's Shipyard in Port Glasgow
for clutch repairs.
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19/10/03
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MV Saturn transferred from Rothesay to Dunoon run this afternoon, swapping
places with MV Juno (weekly roster changes are common for the streakers)
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18/10/03
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MV Lochnevis due to depart for the Clyde tomorrow at 07.00 for Garvel from
Craignure. MV Hebridean Isles due at Kennacraig tonight 17.45 having left dry-dock, ready to begin the 12.50 roster tomorrow. MV Isle of Arran will
remain berthed at Kennacraig till 12.00 Monday then sailing to Stornoway via
Port Askaig.
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14/10/03
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Caledonian MacBrayne new vessel announcement...
Caledonian MacBrayne has welcomed confirmation by Minister of Transport,
Nicol Stephen MSP, that it is to receive funding from the Scottish Executive
for a new ship to service the Wemyss Bay to Rothesay route.
The new ship, which will cost £8.75million, will carry 62 cars and 450
passengers on CalMac’s busiest route, and will enter service in 2005.
Tenders will be placed later in the year for the order to build the ship,
which will replace one of the current Streakers servicing the route.
CalMac Managing Director Lawrie Sinclair, said, “The company is always
delighted to be building new ships. Having introduced two others already in
2003, this is a welcome addition to the fleet. The Streakers have served us
well and are now coming to the end of their working schedules. The new ship
will be ideally suited to commuter traffic. The increased capacity will open
up the island of Bute to many more people, and make the Central Belt more
accessible to island residents.”
The new ship will carry nearly twice as many cars as the Streakers (36) and
around 450 passengers. Mr Sinclair added: “This is the first step towards
the development of a 21st century ferry service for the Wemyss Bay to
Rothesay route. The new ship will effectively bring the island of Bute
closer to the mainland, connecting the two communities. With better access
to the rail and road network, I hope that the integration of services will
lead to even more people using the route. We will obviously be delighted to
see the traffic grow.”
As part of the consultation process involved in bringing the new ship design
to fruition, CalMac will be conducting local meetings and the company is
currently planning a questionnaire which will establish customers’
aspirations for on-board facilities. Mr Sinclair said: “It is important
that everyone appreciates at the outset that there is a fixed budget for
this project and that we have to achieve best value for money, while
producing the most customer-friendly ship possible. I am very much looking
forward to getting the project up and running and delighted to be starting
the building process up again, so quickly after getting our two new ships
into service this summer.”
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13/10/03
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Hebridean Isles has floated out of Garvel Dry-Dock today unaided and is due to resume
service shortly.
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11/10/03
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Lochnevis is due at Garvel Dry Dock for overhaul on Monday 20th of October
with Pioneer covering her. The Coruisk is due to take up the Mallaig - Armadale
service on 2nd November. Before that she may appear up at Mallaig for
berthing trials.
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08/10/03
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Isle of Lewis, Muirneag and Loch Portain didn't sail on Monday 6th owing to
gales. Muirneag didn't sail Tuesday night either.
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07/10/03
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Isle of Lewis made the return trip from Ullapool to Stornoway today but
couldn't return owing to 'trouble with the port engine'
At this moment they don't know if she'll be able to make her crossings
tomorrow.
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04/10/03
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Loch Nevis will dry dock on the 19th October for about two weeks. Pioneer
will cover the combined Small Isles / Mallaig- Armadale service.
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01/10/03
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MV Ali Cat will be out of service for a single sailing on Friday, October 3.
The following sailing is cancelled: Friday 3 October: 1745 ex
Gourock and 1815 ex Dunoon. This change to the advertised timetable is to
allow essential planned maintenance to take place.
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