Ferries

[IBM]

2 hours ago, TheMantis said:

Maybe @IBM can shed more light on these, but I've noted everything I could find. I think I took these pics in August 1998. Maw, Paw and the weans went to Berneray for a day trip from Harris. Looks like we got the Loch Bhrusda to Otternish in North Uist, then a wee boat to Berneray. They were making the causeway between Berneray and Uist at the time and apparently this opened at the end of the year. It seems from the internet that the wee blue boat is the Eilean Bheàrnaraigh. Nowadays I think the ferry from Harris to Berneray is the Loch Portain, then you drive over the causeway to N. Uist. 

You are right Mantis with all you have noted  but you have not said what the green boat is and I can't make out the name.  I was not in Berneray until after the causeway was built.

[The Mantis]

1 hour ago, IBM said:

You are right Mantis with all you have noted  but you have not said what the green boat is and I can't make out the name.  I was not in Berneray until after the causeway was built.

Nice wee challenge you set me. I’ll need to dig out the print again but it looks like CY 457 Morena, built at Grimsay in 1990. 
If it was CY 467 the name is too long, Lady of the Waves. Built at Margate in 1992.
Both boats are Potters. CY is Castlebay.

 

[IBM]

3 minutes ago, TheMantis said:

Nice wee challenge you set me. I’ll need to dig out the print again but it looks like CY 457 Morena, built at Grimsay in 1990. 
If it was CY 467 the name is too long, Lady of the Waves. Built at Margate in 1992.
Both boats are Potters. CY is Castlebay.

 

And I thought you would have been so busy wrapping Christmas presents   Have a good one!

[The Mantis]

3 minutes ago, IBM said:

And I thought you would have been so busy wrapping Christmas presents   Have a good one!

Cheers! Same to you. Rather pleased with that.

I’ve been busy opening them not wrapping. Mrs Mantis and I open them before bedtime these days
Pleased to say I’ve scored a Glenfiddich 15yo Solera and a Classic Laddie so far.

[IBM]

Topical just now here are some old scanned photos the St Ola leaving Stromness and the St Suniva.  Pee & Oh now and their owners just B******S

If I was travelling now I would not use them at all

Although it was my company that was paying the money when I travelled I did my own bookings and stopped using Northlink when Pentland Ferries started sailing to Orkney with no subsidy and half the price for my small van.  They provided a better service compared to Northlink when the weather was a bit rough they sailed when the other one was in port and there was only one occasion that Pentland cancelled and I had to sail Northlink to get home.

 

[Robert]

20 hours ago, IBM said:

Topical just now here are some old scanned photos the St Ola leaving Stromness and the St Suniva.  Pee & Oh now and their owners just B******S

If I was travelling now I would not use them at all

 

Very well said: a shocking way to treat staff.

I just hope all travelling take the same view and boycott P&O. 

[The Mantis]

22 hours ago, IBM said:

Topical just now here are some old scanned photos the St Ola leaving Stromness and the St Suniva.  Pee & Oh now and their owners just B******S

If I was travelling now I would not use them at all

Although it was my company that was paying the money when I travelled I did my own bookings and stopped using Northlink when Pentland Ferries started sailing to Orkney with no subsidy and half the price for my small van.  They provided a better service compared to Northlink when the weather was a bit rough they sailed when the other one was in port and there was only one occasion that Pentland cancelled and I had to sail Northlink to get home.

 

 

Absolutely spot on. I see there’s been a lot of debate about whether their actions were legal or not, with BoJo looking a bit silly.

your first pic is a cracker. Only ever been to Orkney twice, via the St Ola in 1999 and the Pentalina in 2019. Been to Shetland maybe 20 times, St Clair boats and Northlink and planes. Planes can work out pretty cheap compared to the boat if you don’t have to drag kids along and some in-law lends you a car at the other end…

Against that, I must have been to Lewis well over 100 times.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

To help you cope with the boredom of the close season, here's some ferry porn.

To escape from the Joobly madness, we headed for Scotland, and spent the long weekend based in Arisaig.  First time I'd been there - weather, scenery, people, food, drink etc were all fantastic and I loved it. 

We went up to Mallaig on Friday 3rd June, and these four were all photographed there.

We'll kick off with the Loch Fyne.

 

Next, the Loch Nevis.

 

Number three, the Lord of the Isles.

 

And finally, the Loch Bhrusda.

[+snorbens_caleyman]

And as an added bonus, here is the Corran, approaching Ardgour on Saturday 4th.

[IBM]

Glad you had a good time and the weather was good as well.  A beautiful part of the country when it's not raining.  I bet your other half was wondering why you were taking all the photos of the ferries  

[The Mantis]

I was on Pie & Bovril and a poster there had snapped the new MV Loch Frisa and was complaining about how it was just a bathtub toy. It was the UTNE and was bought from Norway for £5.6M secondhand. Some others piled on, appearing to think it was the main boat to Craignure from Oban rather than working in tandem with the MV Isle of Mull to provide an hourly service. 

I replied saying it was probably just to replace the MV Coruisk, similar size, which itself was nearly 20 years old and cost £6.75M new, and which could be moved on to one of the quieter routes. I checked Calmac's website and it was as if I'd written this fine piece of propaganda for them 

However it turns out that the Loch Frisa is only 49M long as opposed to 65M so not so good news. Somebody posted the photo below and I suggested that the picture didn't solve any arguments, on a Father Dougal basis...

 

[IBM]

I have been reading about the Loch Frisa and the locals in Mull are not to impressed as it is smaller than the Coruisk which is due to go back on the Mallaig to Armadale route where it was before. 

[The Mantis]

Not strictly a ferry but not quite a cruise liner either. MV Spitzbergen of Hurtigruten, in Stornoway this year.

The missus and i had a 12 day cruise on MV Kong Harald for our Ruby wedding in 2019. Bergen -Kirkenes - Bergen. The boat only took about 300 and was about the size of this one, i.e. roughly the length of the Loch Seaforth Calmac boat. They have about 11 ships which sail up the Norwegian coast so every port gets a visit every day at the same time. They deliver mail and goods and take on food etc. It was terrific. Northern Lights Classic

[IBM]

A beautiful September evening in Ullapool watching the Loch Seaforth leaving for Stornoway the thing that surprised me was there was only a few folk out on deck, there must have been something special no the menu 

[Robert]

This morning on approach to Ullapool:

 

[Robert]

Meanwhile this was in Stornoway, Malta registered:

 

[IBM]

There has been a lot of cruise ships all around Scotland this summer with Invergordon, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Stornoway, Ullapool and Portree doing well which is good to see again.

[Robert]

Today’s visitor to Stornoway:

[Robert]

Meanwhile the Loch Portain’s aft ramp has failed causing vehicles to have to reverse on at Leverburgh. Some priceless efforts but fortunately no bumps. The trucks were left to last:

 

 

It is the first time I’ve done that route but I could see how some trips get cancelled at low tide given the complex route the ferry needs to take. We were on the 1445 from Leverburgh (delayed by 80 minutes due to the aft ramp issue), the sailing that has been suspended for the last few days due to the tidal conditions.

Edited September 15, 2022 by Robert

[IBM]

I remember the first time sailing on that route the boat was scraping the sand underneath which was normal 

[Robert]

Today at Berneray:

 

[Robert]

My first visit to Eriskay, but time precluded us getting to Barra on MV Loch Allain which set off with only half a dozen vehicles on board:

Edited September 17, 2022 by Robert

[Robert]

Similarly, first time on South Uist, with the Lord of the Isles about to leave Lochboisdale for Mallaig:

 

[IBM]

Looks like the weather has been good for you this week Robert.  I never made it to Barra.........yet.

[Robert]

Dodged a couple of downpours today but it has been remarkably good all week. Head back to Inverness via Lochmaddy - Uig on Monday.

I was in Lewis briefly countless years ago but this is the first time I’ve done the islands properly and I’d recommend it. My wife hates sailing but has loved it too. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by Robert