|
DATE |
NEWS |
| 31/10/06 |
Clansman was unable to call at Coll this morning due to poor
weather conditions. She'll attempt a further call at Coll on her way out
to Barra and South Uist this afternoon and there will call in at Coll on
her way back in to Oban tomorrow. The next scheduled departure for Coll
will be on Thursday at 0645. Isle of Lewis is to stay in
Stornoway all day due to the weather. Loch Fyne was noted as
reaching Fishnish but having to turn back to Lochaline, unable to berth
on Mull.
The Tarbert - Portavadie route was suspended for a time due to the
weather. |
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|
| 30/10/06 |
Loch Linnhe has moved round to Ardmaleish for her annual
overhaul. |
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|
| 29/10/06 |
Loch Linnhe arrived at Rothesay today, ready for her annual
overhaul. With Lochnevis back at Mallaig, this frees up Raasay
to move to Tobermory for winter relief service on the Kilchoan run. |
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|
| 28/10/06 |
Lochnevis left JWD yesterday morning as she made her way back
round to the Western Isles. She was seen passing Port Askaig at around
1900 as she continued her journey back to Mallaig. She is spending
tonight berthed at Craignure and will finish off her journey back to
Mallaig tomorrow. |
Lochnevis leaving the Clyde
|
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|
| 26/10/06 |
Strong northerly winds are affecting a couple of routes this afternoon.
Isle of Lewis is stormbound in Stornoway and will remain there
for the rest of the day. The Tarbert - Portavadie service is also
suspended until further notice, although the situation is to be reviewed
at 1400.
NorthLink:
Severe weather conditions are also affecting Northern Isles services.
Hamnavoe did not sail from Stromness at 1100 and from Scrabster at
1315. The situation will be reviewed at 1600 with a view to resuming
services. This evening's 1700 departure from Aberdeen will see
Hjaltland depart for a direct sailing to Lerwick. Weather conditions
dictate that the call at Hatston will be cancelled tonight. |
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|
| 25/10/06 |
It has emerged that Loch Dunvegan grounded on Rhubodach slipway
last night whilst carrying 3 passengers and a handful of cars. In
accordance with procedures following such incidents, she was taken out
of service for a period today to allow for an underwater inspection and
damage report. Following this, she resumed service across the Kyles of
Bute. The reason for the grounding is not yet known. |
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|
| 23/10/06 |
Lord of the Isles took her place in dry dock at Aberdeen this
morning, taking the place of her former fleetmate Claymore which
has just been prepared for her winter service across the Pentland Firth. |
| |
|
| 22/10/06 |
The winter timetable is now in effect, with many routes seeing a greatly
reduced service. See
here for
timetable information. Lord of the Isles passed up through the
Minch this morning, on her way for her annual overhaul in Aberdeen. She
was observed passing through the Pentland Firth at 1930 and should
arrive at Aberdeen between 0600 and 0800 tomorrow. Clansman is
now operating the winter Coll - Tiree and Barra - Uist combined
timetable. |
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|
| 21/10/06 |
An update on Loch Alainn's reduction in capacity. It is rumoured
that her capacity has been slashed by 25% because one passenger was
unhappy about the space between cars. The vessel is now loaded using the
two outer vehicle lanes as normal, meanwhile the remaining vehicles have
to straddle the two central lanes. Normally at this time of year Loch
Alainn operates the Cumbrae route on her own, but as a result of
this recent restriction, the smaller Loch Riddon is being put
into service to assist. Loch Riddon is also facing a capacity
reduction, with vehicles being loaded in a 'checkerboard' style and she
is now carrying up to a mere 8 cars. Hopefully this action will not be
repeated across the network, otherwise real problems could follow... |
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|
| 20/10/06 |
Jupiter appears to be back in service, taking the sailings to
Dunoon. |
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|
| 18/10/06 |
Lord of the Isles performed the final Oban - Port Askaig sailing
of the season this evening. She is due to go for overhaul in the next
few days, once the winter timetable commences. |
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|
| 17/10/06 |
Saturn is back in service following her annual overhaul. She as
replaced Jupiter on the Gourock - Dunoon run. Jupiter is
now lying at the wires berth. |
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|
| 15/10/06 |
Lochnevis arrived at Gourock at around 0800 to unload her crew
cars, before moving up to JWD where she will lie until entering Garvel
Dry Dock on Monday. |
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|
| 14/10/06 |
Western Isles:
Lochnevis left Mallaig early this afternoon bound for Muck
and then the Clyde for her annual overhaul. Raasay took over the
Small Isles service with a reduced timetable. Her first duty was to
undertake the afternoon sailing to Eigg and Rum.
Clyde:
Saturn moved from Garvel Dry Dock and back into JWD for the
finishing touches to her annual overhaul. It is expected she will move
back to Gourock on Monday. |
Raasay leaving for Eigg and Rum
|
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|
| 13/10/06 |
It has been reported that the Loch Alainn is to, or has been
downgraded and restricted in the number of vehicles she is allowed to
carry. Despite being designed and having been passed for service, and
indeed allowed to operate since 1997 with up to 24 cars laid out in four
lanes on the car deck, she is now apparently only allowed to carry 18
cars in three lanes, although the official company website still has her
listed as carrying 24. Effectively this means that 25% of the car deck
space will be wasted and she will be reduced to the same capacity as the
vessel which served Cumbrae almost 30 years ago; Isle of Cumbrae.
As yet we do not know the reason for this move. |
|
Western Isles:
Raasay arrived at Mallaig this afternoon, having travelled up
from Rathlin. She will go into service tomorrow afternoon on the amended
Small Isles roster. Canna arrived back at Rathlin yesterday and
is now back in service. Isle of Arran is now lying at the pier
at Tobermory until she is next needed on relief duty. |
Isle of Arran lying spare at Tobermory
|
| |
|
| 12/10/06 |
News:
It has been announced this morning that the current vehicle
service to Dunoon is under threat for up to four months over this coming
winter due to essential strengthening works taking place. For full
details click
here. |
| |
|
| 11/10/06 |
NorthLink:
The extended period of high winds in the Northern Isles over the last 2 weeks has
yet to serious affect any of the NorthLink sailings. The only noticeable change has
been on the Pentland Firth sailing where the Hamnavoe has occasionally operated the
route stern only. This is mainly because Stromness harbour is easier to negotiate stern
first in high winds. The Hamnavoe has also provided several of the sailings to and from
Scrabster via the easterly route transiting Scapa Flow. However the vessel has maintained
her schedule while undertaking this slightly longer route.
Western Isles:
According to the view on Oban's webcam,
Isle of Arran arrived in Oban at 1500 from Castlebay and
Lochboisdale. After unloading her traffic she left the linkspan at 1515
to allow Lord of the Isles to take over for a departure
for Colonsay and Islay at 1545 as Isle of Mull returned from
Craignure. The Isle of Arran
then made for Tobermory where she is expected to lie as relief vessel
until needed for her next relief stint.
Isle of Lewis was also observed using the old linkspan at
Stornoway this afternoon, apparently due to the new linkspan undergoing
servicing. Normally this is only used by freight vessel Muirneag. |
| |
|
| 10/10/06 |
Lord of the Isles is currently out of service due to a technical
problem. She is lying at the South Pier while the repairs are carried
out. Lighthouse maintenance vessels such as Pole Star normally berth
here but it has provided additional berthing space for CalMac vessels
from time to time. As a result, Isle of Arran carried out the
sailings to Coll and Tiree and then Colonsay on Monday as well as the
return from Colonsay this morning and the 1530 sailing to Lochboisdale
and Castlebay. She will therefore operate the 0700 return to Oban from
Barra and South Uist tomorrow morning. She may operate the Colonsay and
Port Askaig service in the afternoon, depending on progress with Lord
of the Isles. |
Isle of Arran passing Dunollie Castle, Oban
|
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|
| 09/10/06 |
Loch Riddon has appeared back at Largs this morning, following
her stint on relief at the Sconser - Raasay route. Loch Striven
must therefore be back in service after her overhaul on Bute. |
Loch Riddon back at Largs
|
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|
| 08/10/06 |
It is reported that Canna will be returning to Rathlin this
coming Wednesday after completion of her annual overhaul. She will
replace Raasay after over a month off duty.
Clyde:
Caledonian Isles spent last night at Brodick, having had her
1920 sailing back to Ardrossan cancelled. She performed an additional
early sailing this morning in order to pick up her timetable at 0945.
Western Isles:
This evening's 1730 sailing to Colonsay and back has been
cancelled. The next sailing to the island will be as per timetable when
Lord of the Isles sails at 1700 on Monday. |
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|
| 07/10/06 |
Lord of the Isles suffered a technical failure today and as a
result her 0815 Oban - Lochboisdale and return sailing was cancelled. |
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|
| 06/10/06 |
Clyde:
The 1920 sailing ex Brodick onwards on the Ardrossan -
Brodick route have been cancelled this evening, as has the 0700 from
Ardrossan tomorrow morning. The next movement on this route will be the
0820 from Brodick.Western Isles:
Due to poor weather conditions, Isle of Arran is stormbound at
Port Askaig this evening while carrying out her freight duties.
Hebridean Isles is also stormbound but at Kennacraig. The next
sailing to Islay will be at 0700 on Saturday morning as per timetable.
Due to high tides and the weather, the 1800 and 2230 sailings to
Craignure and 1700 and 1900 sailings to Oban have also been cancelled.
Lord of the Isles also saw her Colonsay run cancelled. An
additional sailing, presumably using Isle of Arran will depart
Kennacraig at 1200 and call at Colonsay on the way to Oban, arriving at
1820.
Lochnevis will be away for her annual overhaul between 14th
October and 1st November and as a result an amended timetable will
operate. Passenger reservations will be necessary during this time. See
the CalMac website for Mallaig office contact details. |
| |
|
| 05/10/06 |
Isle of Arran handed back over to Caledonian Isles today
before setting sail for Islay. She will spend the next few days doing
freight sailings to Kennacraig. It is reported that she will then sit
spare at Tobermory next week. |
| |
|
| 01/10/06 |
Isle of Arran arrived at Ardrossan at 1830 this evening ready for
her 2nd period of relief duty this year on her original run. She will be
on the Ardrossan - Brodick run until Thursday while Caledonian Isles
sits at the Irish berth undergoing mezzanine deck repairs. |
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|
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