The ferry pier at Kennacraig on Kintyre’s West Loch Tarbert suffered a muscular encounter with the stern of Caledonian MacBrayne’s MV Isle of Arran.
The morning run from Islay’s Port Ellen to the mainland ended not with a whimper but a bang.
The ship was reversing in to the pier when, well, it reversed into the pier. Caledonian MacBrayne has told us that mechanical failure is understood to be suspected.
No one was hurt in the incident. There were 14 passengers on board and, when the ship went on to the slipway, they walked off.
MV Isle of Arran was due into dry dock on Tuesday anyway so that has now been brought forward.
The pier has endured some damage. This is not thought to be particularly serious at the moment but engineering inspections are underway.
Until these are complete and the situation fully know, the ferry operator has issues an amended timetable for Monday and Tuesday (respectively 8th and 9th February), given below.
Monday 8th February: amended timetable
- 04:15hrs from Port Ellen (Operating instead of the 07:00hrs)
- 07:00hrs from Kennacraig ( As timetabled)
- 09:45hrs from Kennacraig (Withdrawn)
- 09:45hrs from Port Ellen ( As timetabled)
- 13:00hrs from Kennacraig ( As timetabled )
- 15:30hrs from Port Askaig ( As timetabled )
- 17:00hrs from Port Ellen (Withdrawn)
- 18:00hrs from Kennacraig ( As timetabled )
- 20:15hrs from Port Askaig ( Additional )
Tuesday 9th February: amended timetable
- 07:00hrs from Port Askaig (Withdrawn)
- 07:00hrs from Kennacraig (As timetabled)
- 09:45hrs from Port Ellen (As timetabled)
- 13:00hrs from Kennacraig (As timetabled)
- 15:30hrs from Port Askaig (As timetabled )
reversed and damaged the bow?
http://nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId=2&ReleaseID=410997&SubjectId=15&DepartmentMode=true
someone hasn’t looked into this properly.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
There does seem to be conflicting information here. We were told that the ship was reversing in so assumed the stern was damaged. Then CalMac – who have been helpful and straightforward with information, told us simply that the ship was ‘approaching’ the berth – which did not cause us to question the earlier information from another source that it had been reversing. We will clarify this with the company and post the authoritative version here.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We contacted CalMac and here is the authoritative detail:
‘No question she was going in forward. Confusion may be that after the collision due to the damage to the bow she turned round and berthed stern-first to let everyone off.
She goes into dry dock today. Service is down to one vessel, which had always been the intention while Isle of Arran was in for her winter overhaul.’
Like or Dislike:
0 
0