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‘We do not have a reliable port of refuge.’
That was one of the messages highlighted by chairman Ken Thorburn at the annual general meeting of the Isle of Arran Ferry Committee on Monday June 30.
Mr Thorburn referred to 95 separate incidents of disruption to the Brodick to Ardrossan ferry service last winter and said: ‘We have great sympathy with the travelling public and this is something that we have to address.
‘The problem is in Ardrossan. The company (Caledonian MacBrayne) has looked at other ports but Fairlie is not an option any more.
‘At the end of the day we are stuck with Gourock as an alternative destination. The removal of some buildings at Gourock has made it more susceptible to winds and following alterations to the pier there is now great difficulty getting a bow rope ashore from the ferry.’
The committee met 12 times last year and the port manager Colin McCort or regional manager Robbie Brown were present at almost all meetings. Three CalMac managers from Bute were at the AGM as observers with a view to establishing a working link between the Arran and Bute offices.
Mr Thorburn told the meeting: ‘We are trying hard to get an earlier sailing from Ardrossan on a Sunday morning. The company says that it will consider it if it can be justified economically.
‘We would also like to see a twice-a-day service in winter from Tarbert to Lochranza if there is enough traffic. This would be instead of one return crossing at present. CalMac managing director Laurie Sinclair says that the ferry committee would need to show that this is financially viable.
‘It is good to see the return of the Saturn as our second ferry from Ardrossan for the summer. It takes the pressure off the MV Caledonian Isles. We have already asked the company for a second ferry again for next summer and they have confirmed that a vessel will be made available for the Arran run.’
MV Caledonian Isles is now in its 15th year of service and Ken Thorburn stated: ‘If and when CalMac replace her I believe that it will be with two smaller vessels which might be more manoeuvrable in port.’
The chairman referred to the positive measures taken to provide additional parking at the old Brodick sand plant and plans to change the short stay car park into a drop-off point.
Isle of Arran Ferry Committee:
Ken Thorburn, chairman, Russell Duncan, vice chairman, Donald Bannatyne, haulage industry, Margie Currie, North Ayrshire Council, Alastair Dobson, tourism, Steve Kirk, Stagecoach, Jim Lees, Arran Council for Voluntary Service, Gillian Langley, Arran Community Council, Colin McCort, port manager, Liz Robertson, National Farmers Union, Iain Thomson, construction industry, Helen Ross, committee secretary.
