C R S C NEWSLETTER 01.01.10 – 08.02.10 CalMac Ferries Ltd:

Ali Cat Chartered from Solent & Wightline Cruises Ltd for Gourock–Dunoon (No 1A Roster) pax only, berthing James Watt Dock. M 25 Jan chartered to BBC for six weeks M+F to run Gourock-Loch Striven (film crew) between rostered sailings.

Argyle Rothesay–Wemyss Bay rosters. S 16 Jan diverted to Gourock a.m. (weather)

Bute Rothesay–Wemyss Bay rosters. Su 31 Jan carried out berthing trials at Largs.

Caledonian Isles Ardrossan–Brodick roster. Su 10 to Gourock and James Watt Dock for annual survey; M 11 till S 23 in Garvel Drydock (with Loch Shira); M 25 trials, to Gourock and Ardrossan; T 26 resumed roster.

Clansman ––/–Lochboisdale () roster. S 9 Jan to Brodick (arr 1645); Su 10 light to Ardrossan for roster from 0945; F 15 berthed Brodick overnight (weather); M 25 after roster to and Stornoway (arr 1545 T 26); W 27 Ullapool roster.

Coruisk In James Watt Dock (awaiting spare parts). Th 21 Jan moved to lay-by berth; T 26 moved to Garvel berth. W 3 Feb returned to lay-up berth.

Eigg Oban–Lismore roster. F 29 Jan p.m. off service; S 30 resumed roster.

Hebridean Isles –Islay rosters.

Hebrides Uig–/ Tarbert roster. F 8 Jan delayed a.m. (technical).

Isle of Arran At Oban. S 2 Jan to and Kennacraig for Islay roster from 1800. S 6 Feb collided with berth at Kennacraig  withdrawn from service; Su 7 to Gourock.

Isle of Cumbrae At Rosneath (laid-up). M 25 Jan to Largs; T 26 to Ardmaleish for annual survey. F 5 Feb to Rothesay.

Isle of Lewis Stornoway–Ullapool roster. T 12 and Th 21 Jan stormbound Ullapool overnight; T 26 ex- Stornoway 2100 to Gourock (arr 1930, W 27) and Garvel Drydock (lack of water  berthed JWD overnight); Th 28 to Garvel Drydock for annual survey (with Sound of Scarba). F 5 Feb to JWD. M 8 trials, to Gourock and Stornoway.

Isle of Mull Oban–Craignure/Colonsay roster. Occasional weather disruptions/cancellations.

Jupiter Off service at Gourock. Th 14 Jan resumed Dunoon roster.

Loch Alainn At Gourock (laid up). Su 10 Jan to Largs; M 11 on Cumbrae Slip roster; W 27 to Gourock; Th 28 to Largs (took 1315 service); F 29 to Gourock and Campbeltown (via Kyles/Kilbrannan Sound); Su 31 to Craignure. M 1 Feb to for roster from 1345.

Loch Bhrusda Ardmhor– roster. W 3 Feb to Tobermory; Th 4 to Oban; F 5 to Craighouse; S 6 to Campbeltown; Su 7 to Largs.

Loch Buie – roster.

Loch Dunvegan Colintraive–Rhubodach roster.

Loch Fyne Lochaline–Fishnish roster. M 1 Feb roster till 1325, handed over to Loch Alainn, then to Kennacraig; T 2 to Largs; W 3 to Gourock to await annual survey; M 8 to James Watt Dock.

Loch Linnhe Gigha–Tayinloan roster. Th 28 Jan p.m. to Kennacraig; F 29 to Oban for Lismore roster p.m. ( off service); S 30 to Tobermory. T 2 Feb to Ardmhor; W 3 Feb Ardmhor–Eriskay roster.

Loch Portain – roster. Occasional disruptions (tidal). Loch Ranza At Campbeltown. M 25 Jan trials; W 27 to Gigha for Tayinloan roster from p.m. Th 28.

Loch Riddon At Rosneath (laid up). S 16 Jan to Largs and Lochranza; Su 17 changed over with Loch Tarbert, combined Tarbert–Portavadie/Lochranza winter roster.

Loch Shira Largs–Cumbrae Slip roster. M 11 Jan to Garvel Drydock for annual survey (with Caledonian Isles); S 23 undocked, to Gourock; T 26 trials, to Largs, changed over with Loch Alainn, on service from 1545; Th 28 missed one run (tech - L/Alainn covered).

Loch Striven – roster.

Loch Tarbert Tarbert-Portavadie/Lochranza roster. Su 17 Jan handed over to Loch Riddon at Lochranza, to Rhubodach and Rothesay; M 18 slipped at Ardmaleish for annual survey.

Lochnevis –Small Isles/Armadale roster.

Lord of the Isles At Kennacraig. S 2 Jan to Colonsay and Oban (Isle of Arran took outward sailing) for rostered 1540 Castlebay/Lochboisdale sailing. M 4 to Craignure; T 5 to Oban; W 6 to Craignure; Th 7 to Oban; F 9 picked up Oban–Coll–Tiree/Castlebay–Lochboisdale/Craignure roster. Occasional disruptions (weather).

Muirneag Stornoway–Ullapool freight roster.

Raasay Tobermory– roster.

Saturn Gourock–Dunoon roster. Th 14 Jan roster till 0913, then to Rosneath for lay-up.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd:

Canna Chartered to Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd for Rathlin–Ballycastle service.

Juno Laid up at Rosneath.

Finlaggan Under construction at Remontowa Shipyard, Gdansk.

Other News:

Western Ferries Sound of Scalpay was at Garvel for annual survey between T 5 and M 25 Jan. Sound of Scarba entered the Garvel Drydock on W 27, moving to the James Watt Dock on F 5 Feb.

Clyde Marine Clyde Clipper conducted berthing trials at Gourock and Dunoon on T 26 Jan.

SPT The Renfrew–Yoker ferry service is to be withdrawn at the end of March, saving around £430,000 a year. An experimental ‘Amfibus’ on hire to Stagecoach was trialled on the short crossing on Su 7 Feb, but suffered from ‘technical problems’.

NorthLink The ‘new’ freighter was drydocked on the Mersey, and renamed Hildasay. She left Liverpool on F 5 Feb for berthing trials at Kirkwall (Su 7) and Lerwick (M 8). She is to be officially named at Lerwick

Pentland Ferries Pentalina was drydocked at Aberdeen for annual survey between M 11 and Su 17 Jan. Pentalina ~B left St Margaret’s Hope on S 9 Jan, bound for Mindelo in the Cape Verde Islands. Off northwest France, she ran into difficulties and was towed, after losing power, to Brest.

Orkney Ferries Graemsay returned to Stromness on M 18 Jan following her lengthening at Macduff, resuming service on F 22, allowing Golden Marianna to return to Westray. Thorsvoe took over the Shapinsay service on W 6 Jan while Shapinsay was laid up. Earl Sigurd was surveyed at Peterhead between Su 10 Jan and Th 4 Feb. Varagen moved to Fraserburgh for survey on Su 7 Feb.