Islay Ferry Update
Friday, September 14 2007
It has been another difficult week on the ferries because the Hebridean Isles has been in dry dock having her bow doors repaired. While there a further issue was discovered with her stabilizers which also required work and delayed her return to service. A CalMac spokesperson assured the Ileach however that she will return to the route Friday evening and that normal service will be resumed on Saturday 15th September. There have been capacity issues resulting from these problems and CalMac apologise for any inconvenience caused to customers. The Arran Banner reports that The MV Saturn, which was due to be being retained on the Brodick –Ardrossan route for at least another week, was diverted on Wednesday afternoon to Kennacraig to service Islay.
Last week Calmac presented the wintertimetable for the Kennacraig to Islay route. I checked the new timetable but there was no sign of a second ferry in the winter schedule, although there seems to be a discrepancy between the presented timetable and the online booking system. If you want to be sure you can call the Calmac booking hotline at 08705 650000.
In the meanwhile Guy Platten of Caledonian Maritime Assets, the company which now owns the CalMac ferries, piers and harbours said that the company has an investment project the aim of which is to provide new berthing facilities at Port Ellen and Kennacraig in order to meet increasing demand on the Islay route. Platten, who is Managing Director of the company, made the claim during a presentation to the Transport Day Conference held on Orkney on 3rd September by Napier University Transport Research Institute.
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