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December Fleet News on SoC:
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DATE
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NEWS - updated by
Adam Hiles
+ Ross Ashwood + Stephen Hurst
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29/12/03 |
....Not much happening folks im afraid! Keep the updates coming in, Regards,
News Team. |
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28/12/03 |
CORUISK seems to have a new position of her navigation lights. They appear
to have been heightened, possibly because of the side ramp. |
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19/12/03 |
HEBRIDEAN
FERRIES - Oban 1525hrs today.
CLANSMAN departs for Lochboisdale 5 minutes early to allow ISLE OF MULL onto
the linkspan on arrival from Isle of Colonsay and to load for it's 1600hrs
departure for Craignure (Isle of Mull) while LORD OF THE ISLES lies
alongside the Railway Pier "off roster". CLANSMAN is due to
relieve on Kennacraig - Islay run to allow one of these vessels (HEBRIDEAN
ISLES or ISLE OF ARRAN) to go for annual but yards are closed over the
festive period so there's a bit of work-sharing at Oban. It now appears to
Calmac that because of yet more objections from the Fishing Industry they
may well have to abandon plans for Oban's second linkspan. This is bound to
affect next summer's proposed timetable that would have allowed the three
ships increased frequencies to the Isles. The 1530hrs sailing today of the
CLANSMAN to Lochboisdale and Castlebay returning to Oban at 0540hrs tomorrow
is the last overnight sailing of the Winter timetable - from Friday 9
January the return sailing from Lochboisdale will be at 0730hrs via
Castlebay (0925hrs). (Update and Picture by Alexander MacConnacher)
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18/12/03 |
It seems MV PIONEER is being mothballed and stripped of her Calmac internal fittings and is looking a very sad sight in JWD,
could this be the end? More updates to come... (Later Update, thanks to
Derek Crawford:) Way back in August PIONEER's crew all said that she was
to be mothballed, ie having all windows and doors covered over with metal
plates to completely seal the vessel up, with no crew on board bar a
watchman. When she finally did arrive back in Greenock she was on 24 hour
notice to sail and was active in sense of maintenance being carried and part
of a crew was on board. Now it would appear that they have gone back to the
original idea which, to put it mildly, is bad news. At a guess I would think
the end is nigh...
A report has come in about Alicat's incident, apparently she did not come
into contact with anything floating in the water. One her own rudders came
away from the assembly and contacted the propeller and consequently damaged
the prop. |
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17/12/03 |
Loch
Alainn has left JWD Glasgow and was spotted heading for the Skelmorlie
Channel to Largs at 1315h today.
There seems to be some activity around
Pioneers Berth in the JWD today too, further updates as they come in.
The
Lord of the Isles was rostered to complete Clansman's sailings yesterday,
today and tomorrow, allowing Clansman time off at Oban. Lord of the Isles
then has Sunday and Monday off at Oban. At 4.30pm today Clansman was still
alongside the Railway Pier - Lord of the Isles went to Craignure with the
4.00pm departure and Isle of Mull was due back from Colonsay at 5.00pm. |
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16/12/03 |
Coruisk
is expected on the Rothesay service for Friday. Alterations are presently
being made to the pier there and they are awaiting delivery of the new
gangway. Coruisk is to have her belting modified again to allow her to
operate on this service. It is possible that Coruisk's timekeeping may be
slightly better on the Rothesay run. Her main problem appears to be when
manoeuvring into the berth so the longer run between piers may allow her to
catch up slightly. |
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15/12/03 |
The Loch Tarbert is due to leave Largs today, probably because the
Loch Alainn will be returning from her overhaul. The Loch Tarbert will
probably just be sitting in Rothesay until needed. |
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14/12/03 |
CORUISK was spotted heading for Rothesay, probably on "Berthing trials"
again. JUNO and JUPITER maintain the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay shuttle while
SATURN (and presumably ALICAT) are on the Gourock - Dunoon shuttle. |
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11/12/03 |
ALI CAT was today spotted coming out of what looks like Garvel
dry-dock - perhaps problem fixed. |
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10/12/03 |
ALI CAT hit a submerged object off Gourock this morning, and this is the
reason for her fouled prop and rudder. SATURN should be operating at Gourock
today with CORUISK taking up ALICAT's sailings. Unknown if CORUISK will be
taking cars or not. CORUISK may also undertake berthing trials at Rothesay
and Wemyss Bay as well today. |
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09/12/03 |
SATURN seems to be operating without one of her side ramps, will update when
more information comes in. |
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6/12/03 |
The Loch Tarbert is covering the Largs run while the Loch Alainn is away.
The Loch Riddon may be at Tarbert-Portavadie if the Loch Linnhe is at
Sconser. |
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3/12/03 |
MV Saturn left Garvel drydock this morning, and berthed in the James Watt
Dock. MV Loch Allain then took her place in the Garvel drydock.
There is a small rumour that MV Pioneer will be reinstated into the fleet
for use as a spare vessel after an overhaul this winter. Watch this space. |
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2/12/03 |
Launched Today 1984: at Ferguson’s was the
Isle
of Arran.
Loch
Alainn is in James Watt Dock for her annual
overhaul.
Loch
Riddon has been sent to replace her.
Loch
Tarbert was at Largs tonight, after docking she slipped into her
overnight berth. Loch
Striven may join the
Loch
Alainn and the
Jupiter
in JWD. After the Loch
Linnhe was replaced on the Iona run by the newly overhauled
Loch
Buie, she sailed to Sconser to replace the Loch
Striven (who is reportedly now heading for Timbercraft). |
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1/12/03 |
On Wednesday 3rd December 2003 the
following sailing will replace the scheduled service: Departing Mallaig at
1025hrs following that Muck, Eigg, Muck and back to Mallaig. For more
information contact the Calmac Mallaig office
on (01687)462403 |
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1/12/03 |
Saturn
is currently in Garvel Dry Dock along with AliCat
and
Pioneer in James Watt Dock |
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1/12/03 |
Loch
Alainn was sighted inbound for James Watt Dock this morning, later to
be seen heading back down towards Largs, will report further updates as they
come in. |
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