Following a breakdown on passage from Ardrossan on Sunday 13 October, Hebridean Isles lay at the east side of Brodick pier while repairs were effected
The latest edition of Scottish Ferry News covers all known movements by members of the CalMac fleet in September and October 2024.
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.
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 monitoring the intricacies of CalMac ship movements.
With the winter refit season getting into full swing, visits to the Ardmaleish yard on Bute by Loch Riddon, Loch Buie and Ali Cat are recorded in this latest five page edition, while Lochnevis and Isle of Arran visited the former Garvel repair yard – now trading as Dales – at Greenock. Both Hallaig and Loch Dunvegan went to another Dales facility, the former Ailsa dry dock at Troon, for overhaul, and Loch Seaforth made the lengthy journey to the Mersey for her annual docking at Cammell Laird’s yard in Birkenhead.
Despite her lengthy spell undergoing repairs on the Mersey, Caledonian Isles remained unavailable for service, and the variety of ships used to serve Arran from the mainland in her absence is covered in detail. When Isle of Arran departed for overhaul, Hebridean Isles was drafted in from Islay to provide cover until she had to leave for relief duty at Stornoway. Her own sailings to Islay were taken by Lord of the Isles, which again relieved her for a few days on the Ardrossan – Brodick crossing until moving back to Islay for temporary cover when Finlaggan succumbed to serious engine problems.
During her brief spell of relief work at Brodick, Lord of the Isles spends the night of 21 October at Ardrossan, her only overnight stay there
The unsuccessful berthing trials at Troon and Brodick by the Isle of Man ferry Ben-My-Chree are covered, as are the sailings by five different vessels on charter to the company to provide relief cover as and where required. The trials by Glen Sannox, including her successful berthing at Brodick on Tuesday 1 October, and the unfortunate blackout she suffered the following day are also detailed in this latest edition.
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.
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Published on 29 November 2024