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DATE |
NEWS |
| 30/11/06 |
The following routes have seen diversions or cancellations due to the
weather today:
Tayinloan - Gigha (suspended)
Fionnphort - Iona (suspended)
Mallaig - Armadale (0840 cancelled)
Sconser - Raasay (suspended)
Colintraive - Rhubodach (suspended)
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay (services diverted to Gourock - no further planned
sailings to Wemyss Bay. Bute sailed from Gourock at 1515 and will
finish for the day upon arrival at Rothesay)
Lochaline - Fishnish (first sailings cancelled, 1445 ex Lochaline and
1510 ex Fishnish cancelled)
Kennacraig - Port Askaig (1300/1530 sailings cancelled)
Gourock - Dunoon (1220 round trip cancelled due to technical trouble at
Dunoon)
Tarbert - Lochranza (today's sailing cancelled)
Berneray - Leverburgh (all sailings cancelled)
Tobermory - Kilchoan (0720 sailing was cancelled)
Tarbert - Portavadie (suspended)
Ardmhor - Eriskay (last sailing cancelled)Keep checking the
external link above for up to date information. |
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| 29/11/06 |
Isle of Arran arrived at Tobermory at 1300 where she first
berthed bow-in and then turned to berth stern-in (bow facing the Sound
of Mull). Another day, another set of bad weather and the associated
disruptions... Isle of Lewis will not be sailing from Ullapool to
Stornoway at 1715. She will spend the night in Ullapool, consequently
the 0715 ex Stornoway is cancelled tomorrow as well. Lochnevis
did not venture out to the Small Isles this morning, and the Loch
Ranza is currently off due to the conditions in the Sound of Gigha.
In what is becoming a regular occurrence during these strong winds,
Hebridean Isles has diverted her 1800 sailing to Port Askaig instead
of Port Ellen. The 0415 inward sailing will now depart at 0430 from Port
Askaig.
With a poor forecast for tomorrow, the 0645 sailing to Coll
and Tiree has been cancelled in advance. Clansman will also not
sail at 1530 for Castlebay and Lochboisdale. On Friday there will be a
combined sailing from Oban at 0645 for Coll and Tiree. On departure from
Tiree the vessel will then pass through the Gunna Sound to Uist and
Barra before returning to Oban. |
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|
| 28/11/06 |
Isle of Arran sailed at 0700 from Port Askaig light to Barra. She
then left Castlebay at 1400 bound for Oban with traffic from yesterday's
cancelled sailing. Loch Striven sailed at 1200 bound for the
Clyde after Loch Riddon arrived to relieve her. |
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|
| 27/11/06 |
The date has been set for Loch Shira to be launched. She will
head down the slip at Ferguson's on Friday 8th December at 1300.
Saturn will be brought back into service for the day and will depart
Gourock at 1200 on a special cruise upriver to allow people to witness
the launch from the river itself. With strong winds and poor weather once again sweeping across the west
of Scotland, the following disruptions have been reported:
Loch Ranza is currently stormbound and the Gigha service is off
indefinitely. The 1300 sailing from Kennacraig to Port Askaig is running
up to 2 hours late and is expected to depart Kennacraig between 1430 and
1500. The inward sailing will sail at 1530 as per timetable, therefore
both Hebridean Isles and Isle of Arran are trying to
minimise delays and keep the timetable operating between them.
The 1330 ex Berneray and 1440 ex Leverburgh have been cancelled; Loch
Portain being stormbound at her Otternish berth. Loch Buie is
currently not running, although a decision will be made at 1300 with a
view to resuming sailings this afternoon and finally (for now at least)
Lochnevis has seen her run to the Small Isles cancelled for
today.
Update:
Bute and Coruisk have been taken off duty due to the
weather affecting the Clyde. The situation will be reviewed at 1600 with
a view to possibly resuming sailings from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay.
Further down the Clyde, Caledonian Isles did not sail at 1350,
again due to the weather. Consequently the 1515 ex Ardrossan was also
cancelled. The decision to sail or not at 1640 from Brodick will be made
at 1600. Ali Cat's afternoon run to Dunoon and back has been
cancelled. The 1515 Tarbert - Portavadie and 1545 return sailing have been
cancelled although it is expected that the timetable will resume at
1615.
In the Western Isles, Lochnevis is now to miss her 1600 sailing
to Armadale and back. Weather permitting she will pick up the schedule
with the 0840 sailing tomorrow. The decision was made at 1300 that there
will be no further sailings to Iona this afternoon. Loch Striven
missed the last few runs for the day and should resume service tomorrow
morning.
Isle of Lewis is stormbound at Ullapool this evening. The 1715
sailing has been cancelled, as has tomorrow morning's 0715 from
Stornoway. It is reported that Clansman missed her call at
Castlebay this morning. With Hebridean Isles back in service at
Islay, Isle of Arran is to sail from Port Askaig at 0700 tomorrow
for Castlebay where she will then carry traffic back to Oban. After this
she is due to return to Tobermory where she will lie until she is next
needed. |
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|
| 26/11/06 |
Due to rope becoming tangled round on of Bute's propellers, the
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay service saw the early services cancelled. The
service resumed with the 1100 ex Rothesay, returning from Wemyss Bay at
1215.
Isle of Mull sailed through the night and arrived on the Mersey
late this morning. She entered dry dock in Birkenhead without delay.
Loch Fyne sailed from Campbletown at 1030 this morning bound for
Craignure, where she is due to arrive at around 2100.
Loch Buie sailed from Craighouse, Jura and is now back at
Fionnphort ready to resume service tomorrow. Loch Riddon is now
due to return to the Clyde where she will take over the winter Tarbert -
Portavadie/Lochranza service from Loch Tarbert.
Isle of Arran had this evening's sailing to Port Ellen diverted
to Port Askaig due to incoming bad weather. As a result, tomorrow's 0415
will now sail from Port Askaig at 0430. Hebridean Isles sailed
from Port Askaig to Kennacraig light and will resume service tomorrow. |

Isle of Mull approaching the Mersey

Hebridean Isles sailing light for Kennacraig
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|
| 25/11/06 |
Due to adverse weather conditions, this evening's 1730, 1815 and 1900
sailings from Rothesay have been cancelled. There was a 1830 sailing
from Gourock, following an earlier diversion and this was the last
sailing of the day on this route.
Hebridean Isles left JWD this morning and undertook trials before
calling in at Gourock at 1025 to pick up crew cars. She then sailed
south for Islay. She was meant to berth overnight at Port Ellen but
weather conditions dictated a diversion to Port Askaig. She will return
to service on Monday morning.
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Hebridean Isles passing Dunoon en route
for Islay
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Also leaving this morning was Loch Fyne which left Fairlie for a
sailing via the Kilbrannan Sound to Campbletown where she is spending
the night. She is on her way back to the Sound of Mull where she will
relieve the Isle of Cumbrae once more.
Isle of Mull left Oban this afternoon for her journey south
to Birkenhead where she is to have her overhaul. She was spotted passing
through the Sound of Islay at 1840 and was off Kintyre to the south of
Gigha at 2015. Lord of the Isles is now on the Oban - Craignure
and Oban - Colonsay routes. |
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|
| 24/11/06 |
Loch Dunvegan returned from JWD to the Kyles of Bute where she
resumed service on the Colintraive - Rhubodach crossing. Loch Fyne
came off the route and made for Largs before berthing for the night at
Fairlie.
Caledonian Isles had an early start in order to clear the backlog
of traffic from yesterday. She departed Brodick at 0600 with an extra
sailing to Ardrossan and back.There was also a report on local radio
indicating a problem on the Tayinloan - Gigha run. The service was
apparently restricted to passenger-only, with vehicles being sent up to
Kennacraig. At this moment in time we do not know any further details. |
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| 23/11/06 |
Lochnevis is only calling at Rum on the outward leg of her
sailing today. This is due to the poor weather conditions. Also affected
is the 1530 sailing from Oban - Castlebay - Lochboisdale, which has been
cancelled. Consequently the inward sailing tomorrow will not be running.
The skipper of Loch Ranza cancelled all sailings after the 1430
from Gigha due to the weather this afternoon. Not too far away, the
Isle of Arran also saw her 1530 sailing from Port Askaig cancelled.
She will instead take traffic for this sailing back to Kennacraig at
0430 tomorrow morning. |
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|
| 21/11/06 |
Another day of diversions on the Islay run. Isle of Arran started
the day by sailing at 0430 with yesterday afternoon's traffic. The day
continued as a repeat of yesterday with the 0700 to Port Ellen sailing
instead to Port Askaig. This afternoon though she was able to return to
Kennacraig at 1530.
Isle of Lewis missed her 1345 ex Stornoway sailing so the next
sailing will be at 0715 tomorrow morning if conditions in the Minch
improve.
Lochnevis was running to an amended timetable due to the poor
conditions. She missed her outward call at Rum and called in on her way
back from Canna.
Caledonian Isles was busy trying to clear the backlog of traffic
from yesterday's cancellations, with the 1105 departure from Brodick
leaving 45 minutes late. She was then stormbound at Brodick from 1350 to
1640. The 1640 sailing left on time for Ardrossan. |
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|
| 20/11/06 |
Isle of Arran sailed at 0430 this morning with all of yesterday
afternoon's traffic. The 0700 ex Kennacraig was diverted back to Port
Askaig instead of Port Ellen. This afternoon, following her scheduled
arrival at Port Askaig at 1505, she remained stormbound once again.
In the Western Isles, the Sound of Barra service saw further
cancellations and Hebrides was running to an amended timetable
which saw sailings as follows: Lochmaddy - Uig - Lochmaddy - Uig -
Tarbert - Uig - Lochmaddy - Uig - Tarbert. In an unusually busy winter
day on the Uig Triangle, she was sailing from 0730 to 2130. The Minch
was also too rough for Isle of Lewis today and she remained in
Stornoway for the whole day.
Down on the Clyde, Caledonian Isles was subject to more
disruptions. |
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|
| 19/11/06 |
Isle of Arran was stormbound at Port Askaig after her arrival
there at 1505. She could not sail on the return leg at 1530. Clansman
did not sail to Castlebay and Lochboisdale due to the poor weather.
Loch Bhrusda and Loch Portain also both saw their services
disrupted because of the conditions.
The 1350 sailing from Brodick was diverted to Gourock and then performed
one further single sailing back to Brodick before finishing for the day. |
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|
| 17/11/06 |
Lord of the Isles was seen heading up the Sound of Mull at 1550,
meanwhile Clansman appears to have disappeared from Oban. It
could be that she is back in service and Lord of the Isles has
returned to Tobermory, however this is as yet unconfirmed. |
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|
| 16/11/06 |
Lord of the Isles was spotted heading up the Sound of Mull this
morning, so it appears she is indeed taking the Coll and Tiree sailing
today instead of Clansman. |
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|
| 15/11/06 |
Isle of Mull returned from Colonsay on schedule this evening and
left Oban, presumably for an overnight berth at Craignure. Clansman
came in from Craignure at 1740 and moved to the spare berth, effectively
swapping places with Lord of the Isles which is spending the
night at the linkspan. Presumably she will therefore be taking the early
sailing to Coll and Tiree tomorrow. With work now commencing on the
new linkspan in Oban, we are expecting the Oban ships to use Craignure
as well as the north and south piers in Oban for their overnight
stabling from time to time. |
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|
| 14/11/06 |
Lord of the Isles left Tobermory at about 0745 this morning. She
sailed for Oban, meanwhile Clansman was spotted passing Tobermory at about 0835. She was sailing far slower than her normal
speed. |
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|
| 13/11/06 |
Juno and Saturn are now both noted as being laid up at
Rosneath until they are required at Rothesay for a six week period over
the winter. Strong winds continue to affect the Western Isles, with
Hebrides currently lying at Lochmaddy stormbound. With no letup in
the westerly Force 9 severe gale, her sailings for the rest of the day
have been cancelled. Lochnevis did attempt a sailing to the Small
Isles this morning, however she too had to turn back to Mallaig.
Loch Bhrusda has seen her 1230 from Barra to Eriskay return
sailing cancelled. The later sailing is also in doubt and will be
updated on CalMac's website at around 1600. |
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|
| 11/11/06 |
Isle of Arran suffered minor delays through the day today due to
the high winds. It took until 0950 to get alongside Port Ellen this
morning, and when it came to departure, she had to manoeuvre on the
roundhead and then reverse out of the bay as far as the lighthouse
before being able to turn. She eventually left the pier at 1020. The
return journey was with the wind so she made up some time and was only
15 minutes late into Port Askaig this afternoon, although it did take
until 1530 to get alongside. Departure was half an hour late.
|

Isle of Arran reversing away from Port Ellen
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Caledonian Isles suffered at the hands of the weather too, with her
sailings this afternoon being cancelled.
Coruisk emerged from Rosneath this morning and proceeded to
Gourock before moving down to Wemyss Bay, where she took over from
Juno on the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay service. This route is now once
again in the hands of the new generation of ferries. |
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|
| 10/11/06 |
Clansman did not sail for South Uist and Barra today. Presumably
this was due to the predicted high winds which were to sweep through the
Minch during the afternoon and evening. Isle of Arran had to divert her 1800 sailing
to Port Askaig
instead of Port Ellen this evening due to high winds.
Isle of Lewis did not sail this morning; her 0715 service
being cancelled with the weather. She was due to sail at 1300 however. |
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| 09/11/06 |
Isle of Lewis was delayed by around 20 minutes in Stornoway this
morning due to loading taking longer than anticipated. The 0715 sailing
departed a 0735 and arrived in Ullapool at 1020. The ship then lost more
time and it was about 1100 before she sailed again.
Muirneag also didn't sail last night as she was still sitting
at her berth in Stornoway at first light this morning.
|

Muirneag lying at Stornoway
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| 06/11/06 |
Lord of the Isles' location has been confirmed as Tobermory. She
is currently berthed starboard side to the pier, meaning that Raasay
is having to use the buoy as her temporary berth. Loch Buie
arrived at Rothesay at around 1630 this afternoon. She will lie at the
pier until Ardmaleish slip is vacated by Loch Linnhe. |
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| 05/11/06 |
Hebridean Isles departed Kennacraig at around 2130 this evening
and is taking a slow journey round Kintyre and up to Gourock where she
expected to arrive sometime tomorrow morning. Isle of Arran took
over the Islay run with the 1300 sailing to Port Askaig. Loch
Riddon sailed from Colonsay up to Fionnphort today where she took
over from the Loch Buie. The Loch Buie then made her way
south to Port Askaig where she is spending tonight. She will continue
her journey to Bute tomorrow. |

Loch Riddon on relief at Fionnphort
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Hebridean Isles preparing to leave Kennacraig
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| 04/11/06 |
Clyde:
Loch Fyne spent last night at Campbletown and set sail for
Colintraive via the Kilbrannan Sound and the Kyles of Bute, arriving at
1010 this morning. She took over the Colintraive - Rhubodach service from Loch Dunvegan, which then
made her way to Largs to unload crew cars before sailing for JWD. This
is Loch Fyne's first spell in service on this particular route.
Normally Isle of Cumbrae would perform this relief duty, however
large vehicles carrying construction equipment and raw materials will be
using the Kyles of Bute crossing to get to the site of the new linkspan
at Rothesay and a vessel equal in size to the Loch Dunvegan was
needed.
Juno made her way back down the Clyde this morning and replaced
Coruisk on the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay crossing. Coruisk
then made her way up to Gourock to unload 5 crew cars before sailing for
Rosneath where she will spend the next week undergoing repairs.
Western Isles:
After sailing from Rothesay in the last day or so, Loch
Riddon passed through the Sound of Islay en route for Colonsay where
she is spending tonight. She is due to relieve Loch Buie on the
Fionnphort - Iona crossing following a quick handover with Loch Buie
tomorrow. Loch Buie will then sail south, spending Sunday night
on Islay.
Also passing through the Sound of Islay today was Isle of Arran
which has sailed down from Tobermory. She will commence a relief spell
on the Kennacraig - Islay routes tomorrow.
Hebridean Isles is to sail for JWD on Sunday night.
Lord of the Isles arrived back in Oban today following her annual
overhaul. She berthed for a while at the linkspan before sailing for
Tobermory where she will lie spare until required to cover for
Clansman or Isle of Mull. |

Lochs Fyne and Dunvegan at Colintraive

Loch Riddon off Port Askaig
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| 03/11/06 |
Clyde:
Juno has taken over the Gourock - Dunoon service
for today only, while her sisters Jupiter and Saturn lie at
the wires. Jupiter is having maintenance today and will return to
service tomorrow, while Saturn is laid up spare. The photo opposite was taken this morning and marks what will
probably be one of the final times that we will see all three Streakers
together. |

Isle of Cumbrae on relief at Fishnish
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Juno, Jupiter and Saturn at Gourock
|
Western Isles:
Isle of Cumbrae took over the Fishnish - Lochaline crossing
this morning. Loch Fyne has set sail for Campbletown where she
will spend tonight. She is due to relieve her sister on the secondary
Bute crossing tomorrow sometime. |
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| 02/11/06 |
Western Isles:
Lochnevis is now in service on the Small Isles and winter Armadale
roster. Coruisk was spotted passing Tobermory at 0835 and then in
the Sound of Islay, off Port Askaig at 1300 this afternoon as she made
her way down from Mallaig to the Clyde. She is spending the night at
Rothesay. Clyde:
It is reported that the work to construct the new end-loading
ferry berth at Rothesay will commence on 27th November and will take 34
weeks. For a six week period, two of the Streakers will be required to
operate in order to avoid getting in the way of the works. For the rest
of the winter, Coruisk and Bute will remain in charge. It
is expected that Argyle may relieve for the overhauls in the
spring. |

Lochnevis arriving at Armadale
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