Comment posted Kilcreggan ferry back in limited operation by Dave Forbes.
The Kilcreggan Ferry service has now hit the BBC Scotland News website on the 24th May , not a great news story either for either SPT nor Clydelink. The MCA carried out checks on the vessels themselves and found that the crew did not have the qualifications to operate a passenger service and the boats had to be put on restricted numbers sailing (12) at a time. SPT are wholly to blame for this fiasco , they didn’t do sufficient checks about Clydelink Ltd before handing them the tender. Give us back Clyde Marine boys.
Recent comments by Dave Forbes
- Council concerns on proposed partial ferry service on Ardrossan-Arran-Campbeltown route
Only last week two of Calmac’s bigger ships were taken ‘off service’ due to different matters (crew sickness and engine problems). I say that Calmac could be caught out with only two spare vessels whilst Saturn is presumable just about done and gone. Could she ever be reactivated?…maybe the cost of doing so could be prohibited. What about the usual second summer only (freight) boat for Arran? What happens if daydrippers from the ‘mainland’ get stranded ashore on Kintyre because of adverse weather?…would Calmac let them stay onboard overnight or until the weather subsides?. If you don’t try anything , you will never know , there seems to be a whole lot of negativity about at least attempting the new pilot service. - Scottish Ferry Services Plan 2013-2022 published
Does the upper Firth of Clyde services and routes not exist undere this SNP plan? No mention of Gourock – Dunoon – Wemyss Bay – Rothesay. Are there no plans for the re-instatement of the Calmac car ferry which most people want to see. No disrespect to Argyll Ferries Ltd , but these boats seem to be off service more nowadays. - Russell admits vehicle element of former Dunoon ferry was indeed publicly funded
Wasn’t it a good rumour that the Scottish Government were actively proposing to re-instate some type of publically-run vehicle service between the two linkspans and searching for an appropriate vessel before the six year contract was up after local Dunoon MSP , Mike Russell , came under severe pressure from ferry users AND to keep his seat in parliament? I heard this from a Calmac employee. - Russell admits vehicle element of former Dunoon ferry was indeed publicly funded
If the Calmac vehicle service between Gourock and Dunoon (centre-to-centre) was deemed illegally subsidised by preceding governments , why did it last for some 54 years with the ABC’s and the Steakers? Isn’t this SNP Govermnent just hiding behind some EU dictat. If they were all that interested in ‘speaking for the people of Scotland’ , as their leader always seems to quote , surely they could have stayed strong and argued the point instead of capitulating like a fearty cat. The private concern Western get all the financial benefits of carrying vehicles whilst the publically run Argyll Ferries Ltd can now only afford to run two passenger-only boats…I still smell-a-rat! - Gulls hover over ‘new ferry for Campbeltown’
Have you seen the ticket price of the Redbay ‘express’ between Troon and Campbeltown?..well above some would-be passangers pockets! , even although it would be an exilerating run. Maybe bigger vessels would be a feasible service between Troon or Ardrossan to Campbeltown whilst dropping any idea of the Ballycastle extension but if it were financially feasible , don’t you think that the boys at Calmac or Western would have had a look at it? The strings are falling off the big kite being flown. It would indeed need two vessels for any service and absolutely no gaurantee that the public would entertain it.
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It’s the replacement ferry (forget the name) not the Island Princess in service at the moment.
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Thank you – so it’s the Cailin Oir.
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The Cailin Oir is running at limited capacity because she does not have a passenger certificate.
Q1 Is it right in any sense that a commercial ferry should be able to operate without a certificate?
Q2 If Clydelink are prepared to run the ferry without certification why did they not do this sooner?
Q3 With 40+ base workers turning up for the ferry who gets to go first, will they draw lots like they would have to for an inside seat on Island Princess?
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In response to Q1, there are quite literally dozens of ferries sailing around the coastline of Britain, limited to carrying no more than a dozen hardy souls, because they do not have a passenger certificate.
Quite why Clydelink chose not to have the Cailin Oir ready, and with a full certificate, is another matter! There again, I don’t suppose they anticipated IP running into bother so soon?
I see now from the Kilcreggan ferry website, there’s no mention of the restriction – has it been lifted?
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so if CAILIN OIR has no passenger certificate she will be running on a leisure craft licence which requires no safety inspections?
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There is a code MGN 280 which covers commercial vessels which have certain restrictions, normally relating to tonnage, length, operational areas, and duties. This certification is common. Principally assigned by the MCA for the carriage of not more than 12 passengers in sheltered waters
She will have a valid small commercial vessel certificate, which will detail her classification on board. Without sight of her certification it would be guessing as to what other restrictions she may have. Nobody can imply that she is unsafe, unless there is a breach of her certification. Does this vessel fulfill the ferry contract – probably not? I’m only a shipboard lawyer so don’t take this as gospel.
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I see the Kilcreggan ferry has now been restricted to carrying no more than 12 passengers due to inadequate crew qualifications.
Three cheers for SPT!
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The Kilcreggan Ferry service has now hit the BBC Scotland News website on the 24th May , not a great news story either for either SPT nor Clydelink. The MCA carried out checks on the vessels themselves and found that the crew did not have the qualifications to operate a passenger service and the boats had to be put on restricted numbers sailing (12) at a time. SPT are wholly to blame for this fiasco , they didn’t do sufficient checks about Clydelink Ltd before handing them the tender. Give us back Clyde Marine boys.
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STV were at Kilcreggan today filming and interviewing for a report that will appear on the evening news tomorrow (Friday).
I can confirm that the restriction to carry a maximum of 12 passengers was lifted at 5.00 pm today.
I recently submitted a request to Audit Scotland to carry out an investigation into the SPT tendering and contract process for this ferry service. They have confirmed that they have now asked SPT’s external auditors to take a look at the information I have provided and to report back to them before they consider what further action may be necessary.
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TWO MEN RESCUED AFTER CAPSIZING DINGHY
At 11.30 am today, Clyde Coastguard observed a small dinghy, from their operations room, that had been launched from Cardwell Bay slipway, with two men aboard.
Whilst the dinghy was being watched by the Coastguard, one of the men stood up and fell into the water, capsizing the dinghy, and throwing the other man into the water.
Clyde Coastguard called out the Greenock Coastguard Rescue Team and requested the launch of the Helensburgh RNLI inshore lifeboat.
The Clyde Harbour Pilot Boat, which was already on the water, responded to the Coastguards request for help and recovered the two men (only one of whom was wearing a lifejacket) from the water.
The men were brought to shore to be met by waiting coastguards and an ambulance. They were taken to hospital suffering from the effects of the cold water.
Calum Murray, Watch Manager, Clyde Coastguard said:
Small boats are unstable platforms so be careful when moving around and try to distribute your weight as evenly as possible.
We recommend that recreational sailors and motorboaters wear lifejackets at all times whilst on deck. These should be well maintained and have a sprayhood, light and whistle if possible. A crotch strap is an important part of the lifejacket as it stops it from riding up whilst in the water, so make sure that you wear it. Check your lifejacket over regularly, paying particular attention to the gas canister – make sure that it is properly connected and is not rusty.
Make sure that you have a suitable method of communication with you. A VHF DSC radio is ideal with a charged mobile phone in a plastic bag and marine flares as back-up. Remember though, that a mobile phone cannot be relied upon since signal quality is often intermittent at best when at sea.
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