MV Hebridean Isles sails off to Orkney
Monday, February 12 2007Due to maintenance of a local ferry on the Orkney Route the Calmac Ferry MV Hebridean Isles, well known to regular Islay travellers, will be used on the Orkney route for some time. In its place the Isle of Arran ferry now runs the Kennacraig to Port Ellen route but has less capacity, causing problems for the distilleries, according to an article in thisisnorthscotland
Angry islanders on Islay have accused Caledonian MacBrayne of giving them a totally inadequate ferry service which is failing to meet the demands of local people and businesses alike. The island has eight distilleries and Mark Reynier, managing director of Bruichladdich Distillery, said the industry is fed up with the "third world" ferry service which he claims CalMac provides.
Highlands and Islands MSP Jim Mather said: "It is forecast that whisky production, both on Islay and Jura, is likely to be exceptional this year and that will inevitably result in increased demand for freight space. I have written to CalMac asking for their assessment of the present situation and how they propose to deal with it."
CalMac public affairs manager Hugh Dan MacLennan said the company realised there were capacity problems. But he added that the tender specifications for the new Clyde and Hebrides contract meant that the current situation, of the Islay boat providing temporary cover for Orkney, was unlikely to happen again.
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