C R S C NEWSLETTER 01.10.09 – 10.11.09 CalMac Ferries Ltd: Ali Cat Chartered from Solent & Wightline Cruises Ltd for Gourock–Dunoon (No 1A Roster) pax only, berthing James Watt Dock. W 8 Oct off service (tech); Th 9 resumed roster p.m. Argyle –Wemyss Bay rosters. T 11 Nov off service a.m. (tech), to Gourock for repairs. Bute Rothesay–Wemyss Bay rosters. Su 18 Oct off service till p.m. (problems with rescue boat). S 7 Nov to Gourock after roster; Su 8 to JWD to commence annual survey; M 9 moved to Garvel Drydock (with Loch Dunvegan). Caledonian Isles Ardrossan–Brodick roster. Occasional disruptions (weather). Su 26 Oct tech probs p.m. → 1515/1640 cancelled. Clansman Oban–Coll–Tiree/Barra–Lochboisdale roster. S 3 Oct stormbound all day at Oban; Su 4 + 0700 Inner Isles. S 24 light to Oban after roster; Su 25 start of winter roster. Coruisk Mallaig–Armadale roster. S 3 Oct stormbound; S 24 last day of summer roster; M 26 to Gourock and JWD; T 27 to Garvel Drydock for survey. Th 5 Nov undocked; Su 8 trials, to Gourock and Rothesay for Wemyss Bay roster from 1215. Eigg Oban–Lismore roster. S 3 Oct stormbound from 1100. Hebridean Isles Kennacraig– roster including WO Ken–PA––Oban. S 3 Oct berthed PA overnight (weather) – other occasional weather diversions. Uig–Lochmaddy/ Tarbert roster. S 3 Oct stormbound till 1100, then via Tarbert to Uig and return. Kennacraig–Islay roster. S 3 Oct disrupted – sailed Ken-PA a.m., then 1555 (in lieu of 1800) PA- Ken. Occasional other weather diversions. Isle of Cumbrae Tarbert–Portavadie roster. Su 25 Oct winter roster. Su 1 Nov start of combined Tarbert- Portavadie/Lochranza roster, changed over with Loch Tarbert at 1340, to Gourock; M 2 to Rosneath for lay-up. Isle of Lewis –Ullapool roster. S 3 Oct stormbound all day. Isle of Mull Oban–Craignure roster. S 3 Oct stormbound all day at Oban. Su 25 Oct winter roster, incl. Colonsay. Jupiter Gourock–Dunoon roster. Loch Alainn Ardmhor–Eriskay roster. Occasional cancellations (weather). Th 29 Oct + 1030/1140 (traffic). T 3 Nov 0925 & 1230 runs cancelled (tech); W 4 to Oban; Th 5 to Campbeltown; F 6 to Largs (via Kyles); Su 8 to Colintraive for Rhubodach roster from 1130. Loch Bhrusda At Gourock (spare). F 2 Oct to Campbeltown; Su 4 to Craignure; M 5 to Mallaig for Small Isles roster from S 10; S 24 last day of summer roster; M 26 on combined Armadale/Small Isles roster (till Th 29). M 2 Nov to Ardmhor for Eriskay roster (from W 4). Loch Buie Fionnphort–Iona roster. S 3 Oct service suspended p.m. (weather). Loch Dunvegan Colintraive–Rhubodach roster. S 3 Oct service suspended during afternoon (weather). Su 8 Nov changed over with Loch Alainn, to JWD; M 9 to Garvel Drydock (with Bute) for annual survey. Loch Fyne Lochaline–Fishnish roster. Loch Linnhe Tobermory–Kilchoan roster. Th 22 Oct changed over with Raasay, to Oban; F 23 to Campbeltown; Su 25 to Largs; M 26 to Rhubodach and Ardmaleish (for survey). F 6 Nov to Rothesay; M 9 trials. Loch Portain Berneray–Leverburgh roster. Loch Ranza –Tayinloan roster. S 3 Oct stormbound all day. Loch Riddon At Fairlie for additional Largs–Cumbrae Slip sailings as required. M 19 Oct to Ardmaleish for annual survey. Th 5 Nov to Rothesay; F 6 to Gourock. Loch Shira Largs–Cumbrae Slip roster, berthing Fairlie overnight (Gourock in bad weather). Loch Striven Raasay–Sconser roster. Loch Tarbert Lochranza–Claonaig roster. Occasional diversions to Tarbert (weather); S 3 Oct service suspended for most of day. Su 25 start of winter roster. Su 1 Nov took over from Isle of Cumbrae at 1340 on combined winter Tarbert-Portavadie/Lochranza roster. Lochnevis Mallaig–Small Isles roster. S 3 Oct stormbound; Su 4 relief sailing to all islands; S 10 handed over to Loch Bhrusda after a.m. sailing, left Mallaig late p.m. for Gourock (arr Su 11) and Garvel Drydock; W 21 to JWD; W 28 trials, to Gourock and Mallaig (arr Th 29); F 30 resumed roster. Oban–Coll–Tiree/Colonsay/Barra–Lochboisdale/(Craignure) roster. S 3 Oct stormbound at Craignure; F 9 sailed via Small Isles (for shelter) on inward run; M 19 returned to Oban p.m. (weather); T 20 proposed + 0630/0900 Oban–Colonsay cancelled (weather); S 24 after roster to Aberdeen (arr Su 25) for annual survey. T 10 Nov ex-Aberdeen 1830 for Oban. Muirneag Stornoway–Ullapool freight roster. Raasay At Corpach for annual survey. Th 22 Oct to Tobermory for Kilchoan roster from F 23. Saturn In Garvel Drydock for annual survey. F 2 Oct undocked, trials, to Gourock and Rosneath (for lay-up). Ullin of Chartered from Gordon Grant for Mallaig–Small Isles roster (sharing duties as required with Loch Bhrusda). Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd: Canna Chartered to Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd for Rathlin–Ballycastle service. Juno Laid up at Rosneath. New Islay Ferry Under construction at Remontowa Shipyard, Gdansk. Other News: Compensation paid to Scottish ferry operators was found by the EU investigation to be compatible with State Aid rules, with the exception of the Gourock-Dunoon route which must now undergo “a transparent and non-discriminatory public tender” for its future operation. The Scottish Government is now committed to launch a tendering process for the route before the year- end, with a public service contract to be in place by the end of June 2011. Close scrutiny by the EU will continue. Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has launched a competition to choose the name for the new Islay ferry. Four names have been suggested – , Glendale, Lochiel and Pioneer. The online competition runs until M 16 Nov and two winners who vote for the most popular name will be invited to attend the launch as guests of the company. The former Clyde turbine steamer Queen Mary has been sold to French owners for conversion into a luxury hotel. She is to be moved to La Rochelle, and the first part of her journey took place on M 9 Nov, when she was towed from the Embankment to Tilbury. Waverley Excursions Waverley returned to the Clyde after a very successful South Coast season, arriving at Greenock on W 14 Oct before moving upriver on Th 15 and carrying out berthing trials at BVT Govan’s basin and Meadowside Quay. Short cruises to Clydebank were given on F 16, on S 17 she sailed to Loch Long (Arrochar – non-landing) and also gave an evening cruise, while on Su 18 she sailed to Tighnabruaich. On M 19 she gave two cruises from Glasgow to view/escort Queen Mary 2 at Greenock. Her final sailing of the season was a downriver charter to BVT Surface Fleet from Stobcross Quay, turning at the mouth of the Cart, and returning to Govan. She then moved across to Meadowside Quay to view the launch of HMS Defender before returning upriver to spend the winter at Plantation Quay. Western Ferries Sound of Shuna was at Garvel between M 26 Oct and Th 5 Nov for annual survey (afloat). Local press reports suggest that the company may be interested in operating to Arran in the future. P&O Irish Sea Express concluded her summer season on M 5 Oct, and moved to Belfast for winter lay-up on F 9. Stena Line Stena Navigator (ex-Seafrance Manet) carried out berthing trials at Stranraer on Th 29 Oct. Pentland Ferries Pentalina was off service with ‘technical problems’ between Th 5 and T 10 Nov. Pentalina ~B has reportedly been sold “for holiday use” use in Cape Verde, although she currently remains at St Margaret’s Hope. Ferries Graemsay moved to Macduff on W 30 Sep, where she will be lengthened by 5 metres. Work is expected to be completed by mid-December. Golden Mariana is carrying out -North - Graemsay service during her absence.