Scott7 5,009 Posted August 31, 2021 Share Posted August 31, 2021 Built on the Clyde but has to go to Merseyside for repair. Not the usual SG practice. Holland, Germany even Korea but not a British yard, surely. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 5,778 Posted September 1, 2021 Author Share Posted September 1, 2021 Today is the beginning of Autumn and Cal-Mac has greeted the Autumnal tourist season by pleading, "do not travel to Mull". The 34 year old MV Isle of Mull has been withdrawn from service due to a mixture of malfunction and Covid issues. Overstretch in the Cal-Mac ageing fleet, the inability of local yards to deal with the need for constant repairs and, the replacement for the MV Isle of Mull remaining on the slips of Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow for at least another year; all means Cal-mac needs to deflate tourist expectations on the island. This Autumn, what's the story in Tobermory is, 'we're fcuked'. Other Scottish islands are available, for now. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 5,778 Posted September 4, 2021 Author Share Posted September 4, 2021 Three days on from Cal-Mac's, "Do not travel to Mull" plea; another two vessels in Cal-Mac's ageing fleet have been laid up for repair. Three lifeline ferries withdrawn from service in four days. Thus far, A Spokesperson for Cal-Mac has said nothing. The Scottish Government's Minister for Transport, Graeme Dey has said nothing. Mr Dey lives in Carnoustie, possibly the furthest point away from any Ferry departure point. The Scottish Government's Minister for the Islands, Mairi Gougeon has said nothing. The MPs for Argyll and Bute and, the Western Isles, Brendan O'Hara and Angus MacNeill have said nothing. The First Minister has said nothing. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gonzo79 13,354 Posted September 4, 2021 Share Posted September 4, 2021 You get what you vote for. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill 13,687 Posted September 4, 2021 Share Posted September 4, 2021 58 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said: You get what you vote for. I’m in Skye for a few days. Road signs for ferry departure points shout “Disruption” at passing motorists. But “Yes” flags still fly outside many houses. These people don’t appear to give a fuck about anything but their Jacobean fantasy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
the gunslinger 3,366 Posted September 4, 2021 Share Posted September 4, 2021 26 minutes ago, Bill said: I’m in Skye for a few days. Road signs for ferry departure points shout “Disruption” at passing motorists. But “Yes” flags still fly outside many houses. These people don’t appear to give a fuck about anything but their Jacobean fantasy. there is a lovely Japanese restaurant in Portree. 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uilleam 5,278 Posted September 4, 2021 Share Posted September 4, 2021 43 minutes ago, Bill said: I’m in Skye for a few days. Is it gneiss? 0 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 5,778 Posted September 8, 2021 Author Share Posted September 8, 2021 It's five short days since Cal-Mac's cri de couer, "Do Not Travel to Mull". Today it's, "No Day Trippers to Eigg, Muck, Rum and, Canna". On Tuesday, Cal-Mac chartered an old vessel they used to own. The MV Larvern was being utilised by Western Isles Cruises to provide voyages around the afore mentioned islands. The vessel is in it's forty-first year but Cal-Mac were confident this emergency charter would see them through to the start of October, the end of the summer rush. MV Lavern lasted a whole day, before the beleaguered lifeline service collapsed once again. The spare part concerned is not readily available and, the MV Lavern's return to Cal-Mac service is over. Why doesn't Nicola ask Boris to send north, those two thousand confiscated inflatables beached on the Kent coast? 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
26th of foot 5,778 Posted September 13, 2021 Author Share Posted September 13, 2021 Another week, another two Cal-Mac Ferries have been removed from service. Last week saw Cal-Mac pleading, 'Do Not Travel to Mull'; followed by, 'No Day Trippers to Eigg, Muck, Rum and, Canna'. Today, another island, Islay has access issues. The 36 year old vessel servicing Islay is the MV Hebridean, this is the second time the vessel has been withdrawn this summer. A problem has been detected in it's hull and another journey of repair must be undertaken to Barrow in Furnace. The second Ferry cancelation should be temporary and it's hoped the repair can be completed in Port Askaig. Further, it has been revealed this morning the cost of repair to the stretch of the A83 called the Rest and be Thankful over the last three years, currently stands at £8.5 million. Another £3.5 million is expected to be spent. The problem is the repairs are all 'sticking plaster repairs'. Building walls and digging ditches to either block or contain land slides, are temporary measures due the constant threat every winter. I wonder if the Scottish Government Transport Minister, Graeme Dey has ever left Carnoustie and traveled to Mull, Islay and, the smaller islands via the A83? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian1964 10,305 Posted September 14, 2021 Share Posted September 14, 2021 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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