Ferry News November-December 2024


Her sailing days with CalMac over, and seen leaving Stornoway for the final time, Hebridean Isles passes Loch Seaforth at Arnish on Sunday 17 November

The latest edition of Scottish Ferry News covers all known movements by members of the CalMac fleet in November and December 2024. It also includes a ship-by-ship ‘distribution of vessels’ on 31 December, listing exactly where each ferry was at the end of the year.

John Newth provides CRSC with regular ‘Ferry News’ updates

Scottish Ferry News is available here. Like previous editions, it is available only to paid-up CRSC members.

If you wish to read this authoritative update on Clyde and West Highland ferry movements, and have not yet joined CRSC (introductory membership for the first year with full benefits: £15), click here.

If you are already a member but have not yet renewed your subscription for 2024-25, please do so now by clicking here.

Scottish Ferry News is an invaluable resource for enthusiasts and professionals who wish to track where vessels have been, what overhauls took place and which routes were affected by weather disruptions and vessel substitutions.

We are grateful to John Newth, compiler of Scottish Ferry News, for detailing two months that found CalMac coping as best it could with continuing fleet absences as well as some atrocious weather.

Coruisk on relief duty at Wemyss Bay on Monday 2 December

The latest edition of Scottish Ferry News details the continuing programme of fleet overhauls as the Rothesay boats visited Greenock for docking — Bute, then Argyle, and Coruisk.

Also recorded are the visits of Isle of Mull to Aberdeen and Lord of the Isles to the Mersey, while smaller member of the fleet are not neglected, with Loch Tarbert and Catriona amongst those docked at Troon for survey.

The much-lamented retiral of Hebridean Isles, which ended her days on the Stornoway-Ullapool service, is covered, as is the handover of Glen Sannox, which finally hoisted the CalMac houseflag in mid-November before embarking on a continuing programme of trials and crew familiarisation.

With the continued woes afflicting Caledonian Isles, Isle of Arran served Arran for the rest of the year from Ardrossan — albeit with several weather disruptions — along with the chartered catamaran Alfred still maintaining a link to Troon. Several other vessels also appeared on charter, mainly at Mallaig when Lochnevis suffered a problem that necessitated an emergency visit to drydock. These temporary members of the fleet are all documented.

The above details are just a sample. There is a lot of fascinating information in Scottish Ferry News, clearly and precisely laid out — all of it awaiting your inspection and dissection.

Festooned with Christmas lights, Clansman loads at Craignure on Monday 16 December as Loch Frisa lies off

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Published on 31 January 2025