Comment posted Kilcreggan ferry back in limited operation by newsroom.
Thank you – so it’s the Cailin Oir.
Recent comments by newsroom
- Argyll and Bute Council: Councillor McCuish leads again
We appreciate that it is inconvenient for a light to be shone on doings your party would prefer to keep hidden in shady places from those it asks to vote for it.
That is a dishonourable contract.
As the former Alliance of Independent Councillors [which had nothing at all do with Michael Russell ] knows very well, when it was damaging Argyll and Bute by its conduct during the 2010-11 schools closure wars, we were even more vigilant in keeping them under scrutiny and publishing on their manoeuvres.
We had to be even more vigilant because they were skilled at keeping things under wraps – where the SNP has conducted its acts of political genocide en plein air. All anyone has had to do is draw up a chair.
It should be obvious from our stance in recent weeks that we have no ‘vendetta’ against Councillor Dick Walsh, whom we dealt with arguably more harshly than we have done with Mr Russell.
A central function of our role is to contribute to the holding to account of those elected to serve the people. We do our best to fulfil this fairly – and hard. But we have no vendetta against anyone.
In Mr Russell’s case we simply feel he is a hot air balloon who has imploded over Argyll and done a great deal of harm – profoundly so to his own party, which we used to support. The evidence for our view is in the public domain. - Radically new council group changes all the dynamics: party politics dead in Argyll
The fact is that the SNP councillors in the Argyll and Bute for Change group are not ‘SNP councilors’ in council group terms – as rules forbid membership of more than one group.
So the ‘Russell camp’ is definitely no longer in the council’s SNP group, although presumably they will personally vote in elections according to their preferences.
And IF the other 8 SNP members have actually joined [as opposed to supporting [the Argyll, Lomond and the Isles group, there is no formal SNP group at all in Argyll and Bute Council.
If this has become the situation, it means that the SNP as a party has no right of purview over the behaviour of ANY of its originally elected councillors, none of whom would now be SNP councillors.
You have to say this is fun. It's not politics but it is a laugh. - Argyll and Bute Council: Councillor McCuish leads again
As given in one of the recent updates above - the missing person is Councillor Strong - from the, as of this morning, Argyll and Bute for Change Group. This would leave that group with 18 members but only 17 present to vote - which would not be enough to carry them to administration IF all other 18 councillors voted together.
This has to be likely but in the current situation the finessing is so arcane that one cannot be certain of anything until it's done. - Argyll and Bute Council: Councillor McCuish leads again
The fact is that they were quite prepared to work with the Liberal Democrat and Conservative groups - but were ordered by the the SNP to face expulsion from the party or to leave the administration that was planning just such a coalition.
We do not yet know what the SNP party position is today - although in our 14.15 update above, we have laid out the range of possibilities - but we do know that the 8 SNP Councillors have not resigned from the party. - Argyll and Bute Council: Councillor McCuish leads again
Sincere apologies for the temporary error - now corrected - and thank you for the prompt.
We are doing our level best - live - to get changing situations out to people as fast and as best as we can.
When we inevitably have the odd muddle [like cloning Mary Jean Devon], it is corrected very quickly.
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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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