During other re-deployments when the IOM has been taken elsewhere, we have made efforts to have the situation mitigated by freeing up the south berth of Craignure pier. This could have allowed the Coruisk to over-night there (instead of in Oban), thereby enabling the Loch Frisa to operate a longer timetable. In the circumstances we now face, the same could be done or it could enable the Isle of Mull to operate to Lochboisdale from an Oban base. That could in turn enable it to continue to operate some sailings to Craignure. Either way, if the south berth of Craignure pier was made available to CalMac, they would have more options open to them.
However, Argyll and Bute Council insist that prior bookings that have been made for the small cruise boats Lord of the Glens and Lord of the Highlands will take precedence, and they will not cancel them in order to allow CalMac to use the pier. We think that is preposterous. It’s a public ferry pier, and public lifeline ferry services should take precedence. We find it astonishing that the Council apparently do not agree with that.
We’ve written on numerous occasions previously to Council officials, the Council Leader Jim Lynch and the Chief Executive Pippa Milne. We have never received a satisfactory reply. Given the current crisis of capacity occurring in the height of the summer season, and the speed with which a decision must be taken, we have written again to both Pippa Milne and Jim Lynch. Below you can see the full text of those emails.
The Council need to make a decision on this immediately, so that CalMac can plan accordingly. The cruise boats have alternatives – they could use Fishnish timber pier, Lochaline old pier, Salen pier, or Tobermory (if CalMac move the Loch Riddon to the pontoon, which they have demonstrated is possible). We’re publishing here, in order to make the urgency of the situation clear. We have given them a deadline of 9am tomorrow (Wednesday) morning to respond, given the urgency (note we first emailed Jim Lynch requesting this on June 27th, but got no reply).