I received a very interesting follow up from Mark Unsworth of Islay Studios on yesterdays story about the new winter timetable from Calmac. I wrote that there was no sign of a second ferry for Islay in the winter schedule but the following contribution from Mark might shed some light in the ferry darkness.....
Today the Calmac vessel Saturn normally based on Gourock-Dunoon route (Picture right: The Saturn arriving at Rothesay on the Isle of Bute) has been doing berthing trials at Port Askaig this afternoon. So possibly instead of the Hebridean Isles and the Arran working to Islay over the winter it could be the Hebridean Isles for a passenger service and the Saturn for freight only. Last winter the Arran was used to clear backlogs of freight from time to time, maybe this year the Saturn will be on the route fulltime, it isn't really suited to passenger traffic for this route being a smaller ship and with more limited catering services on board. Both the Saturn and the Jupiter do also cover on the Wemyss Bay-Bute service when the weather is bad for the new ships on that route when they can't berth at Rothesay. However the facilities at Rothesay are currently being updated which may allow the new ships to berth in all conditions?
The berthing trials are fact as is the fact that this vessel has never really left the Clyde before other than brief service to Arran and a single journey to Inverary (the furthest North she has ever been!) so to come to Islay is quite unique. It will leave for Kennacraig tonight where she will stay until returning to the Clyde tomorrow. To be continued.....
Mark sent me a picture this morning from the Saturn docking at Kennacraig yesterday evening. this proves there is definitely something going on. Thanks for the update Mark!
The Saturn docking at Kennacraig
Islay Weblog
http://blog.islayinfo.com/article.php/islay_new_ferry_spotted