Storm, flood alerts and ferries off Created: 18 November 2020 Stornoway News Barra and Vatersay News The Met Office this morning (Wednesday 18 November) issued a warning for strong winds eastern parts of the Western Isles overnight tonight. A further £45m was added as a "loan". Weeks after the election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell congratulates the president-elect. Ferry chiefs have warned of disruption between the mainland and the Isle of Arran this weekend as Storm Dennis blows in. Holyrood was contracted on the basis that the procurer carried the risk of rising cost, and as the design kept changing, that was found to be the main reason the bill soared from £50m to more than £400m. And in the process, the cost has more than doubled. The letter from former managers attacks evidence to the committee from ministers, describing it as "factually inaccurate and grossly misleading". The only intention is to finish the two ships which are now far behind schedule. THIS is heart-stopping moment a ferry lurches sideways after being battered by high winds and violent waves caused by Storm Dennis. Follow us on twitter for the latest service updates @CalMac_Updates and if you have any questions - just send us a tweet from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. Some of our familiar processes have changed. The unprecedented storms of January and February were followed by a global pandemic that saw our lifeline services prove their worth. The MSPs' report into the "catastrophic" mismanagement of CalMac ferry building is hard-hitting, but it doesn't end the Ferguson ferry fiasco. MSPs report the evidence they heard that CMAL could be abolished and its ferry procurement role taken into CalMac. The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry was rocked around in the high winds SCARY footage has emerged of a CalMac vessel lurching in Ardrossan Harbour as high winds from Storm Dennis hit the town. Storms cancel ferries in Scotland and Norway. But even if FMEL was to blame, the management of the contract from CMAL's point of view is still strongly criticised. Reading between the lines of this report, the MSPs pass on the main and most astounding evidence they received, while choosing not to reach a judgement on which of the contradictory claims about capability and mismanagement were correct. CalMac has confirmed there will be no sailings on Wednesday owing to "weather conditions". Gales … Video: CalMac ferry crew praised for working in Storm Dennis MV Caledonian Isles had some challenges trying to get into Ardrossan harbour during high winds… Read about our approach to external linking. Once your booking number has been confirmed, please complete the online form to add your pet to your booking. Browse more videos. 1 talking about this. Fixed cost turned out to be flexible. 0:31. MSPs don't explicitly conclude that themselves, but they do suggest there may be too many agencies involved. Mr McColl answered that the first part of sequencing in shipbuilding should have been the propeller and stern block, but that design was not finalised, and so managers had to shift to other work. I asked about the practice - which astounded MSPs - of billing for work done, when the work was not in the design or within the sequence, simply in order to keep funds flowing. The Video of US Doctor Rocking Worldwide With New Directions | The Video of US Doctor Rocking Worldwide With New Directions 2020 | the video of us doctor rocking worldwide with new directions. Was very easy to look-up online the ferry timetables and prices. Here are their thanks for CalMac… A leading research role in hydrogen-powered ships has been abandoned, along with a plan to develop an Inverclyde site to build fishing boats. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The video was taken by William Campbell, who was waiting to … Yet they blow a hole in anything that passes for industrial strategy. Refunds - Find out how to apply for a refund online. American Express is no longer accepted. In the case of the Canadians running DF Barnes, who are expected to lose control of BiFab with its administration this week, they are walking away quietly, feeling let down by the Scottish government. Increasingly violent storms will make the crossing to Stornoway more … It will remain in place until 11.59pm on Saturday evening. Ferguson's does not seem to be seeking other work. Also we followed CalMac on Twitter so kept up to date with issues and delays. Haqeeqat TV. Rocking CalMac Ferry. This report suggests it's only the starting point for what's needed. Costs were rising. Yet that was not adequate protection from risk. Accused of failing to invest, the government say that was never its role. Indeed, it's something that should be taken as read. Buy Tickets Almost all Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferry routes in western Scotland have been disrupted, with many links cancelled all day, as high winds sweep in from the southwest. Both led to corporate failure, and a falling out between ministers and entrepreneurs. Read the CalMac Blog for exciting news and stories from Scotland's west coast and islands. CalMac expects disruption to services over the weekend as Storm Ciara’s 80mph winds reach Argyll and the Isles. Playing next. What Scottish government says in response reads like self-parody: an intention to publish a "ferry stakeholders engagement strategy". A ferry operator has hit back at a union over claims a director took an 18% pay rise while suggesting staff were being denied their own pay increase. This app allows you to keep up-to-date with the latest CalMac service information while travelling or away from home. Meanwhile, MSPs on the committee want a "root and branch review" of the way ferries are procured. However, at Ferguson's in Port Glasgow, the parliamentary inquiry seems likely to be only a lull before a renewed storm. The international engineering tycoon told me he's digesting the report, but is minded to call for an inquiry, with evidence under oath. Jim McColl, the industrialist hailed by ministers as saviour of the shipyard in 2014 and then ousted from it last year, also by ministers, says the cost should now be put at £255m and rising steeply. Their cross-party compromise was to blame everyone - except, it should be noted, the ferry operator itself, CalMac. Storm Ciara latest warnings: Will CalMac ferries be cancelled as storm hits? A yellow weather warning covering the area where CalMac operates begins at 12pm on Saturday. This appears to mean that CMAL, Transport Scotland, CalMac and the Scottish government will try to communicate better. Keep up to date with CalMac news, information, and competitions by following @calmacferries on Twitter. Heart-stopping footage … Stay tuned with the latest videos from CalMac over on the CalMac Culture youtube channel. Stay connected with the latest news, stories and competitions from CalMac by signing up to receive regular email updates. CalMac operations director Robert Morrison told BBC Scotland it was unusual for a storm to be large enough to affect the whole network, but that it was not unprecedented. And with that, they are calling for a further inquiry, by Audit Scotland. The letter gives repeated examples of approval of the work being done under then operator Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (FMEL), including the independent inspector put into the yard by Scottish ministers. Dramatic footage show a ferry lurching from side to side as it battled high winds and violent waves from Storm Dennis. Two CalMac ferries at the centre of a political storm over cost and delays should be scrapped and work started again, it has been claimed. Payment - At our ports and on board our ferries we accept MasterCard, Visa, Apple, Google and Samsung pay. 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This has been one of the most challenging periods in CalMac’s history. © 2020 BBC. This is the official app from Caledonian MacBrayne, the ferry operator serving the Clyde and Hebridean Islands of Scotland. It also draws on whistleblower information from contacts still inside the yard, claiming there is still no final design specification for the ships and, in a year, the project has only progressed by around 10% of the total. Caledonian MacBrayne and CalMac are trading names of CalMac Ferries Limited, Accept and hide this message about cookies, Winter Timetables 19 October 2020 - 25 March 2021. Jim McColl and his former management team have written a forceful counterblast to MSPs, against those who blamed the former shipyard operators for the Ferguson ferry fiasco. And he's leaving open the option of legal action. S chools were forced to close and ferries cancelled today as Storm Brendan ripped through parts of Scotland with gusts of up to 87mph.. 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New Covid strain: How worried should we be? 2020 Both involved the Scottish government brokering deals to bring in private sector operators, which they presented as the saving of ailing industrial sites. CalMac has laid on an … 'Catastrophic' failings over Ferguson ferry 'fiasco', 'Don't give up, the storm ends': A message of hope. Check what applies in the area you're considering travelling from / to Visit the gov.scot postcode checker, On public transport, you must by law wear a face covering, unless you are exempt. And soon. Jim McColl, who used to … MSPs note the striking lack of transparency as to its purpose. That would be nice to have. Tier 3 restrictions 'worst-case scenario' for town, 'Don't give up, the storm ends': A message of hope. CalMac ferry MV Caledonian Isles rocking in Ardrossan harbour as Storm Dennis hits Scotland. And it says staffing is a problem, because the skilled workers required in Port Glasgow have more secure work in other Clyde and Rosyth shipyards. CalMac pulls out all the stops to get services through to west coast communities - but disruptions persist As the tail end of Storm Gertrude persists, bringing difficult conditions to Scotland's west coast, services across Caledonian MacBrayne's 200-mile long network continue to be disrupted and passengers are, once again, advised to check ahead. Creative Connections Lewis and Harris Housekeeper Fire Fighter Assistant Harbourmaster/Pilot Then the former owner of the yard was put into administration by the Scottish government. Payment - At our ports and on board our ferries we accept MasterCard, Visa, Apple, Google and Samsung pay. Business Guide Hebrides; What’s happening at Western Isles Libraries; Bobby's Pages France replaces lockdown with evening curfew, How Covid changed our lives - in 12 charts, New Uighur cotton evidence 'game-changer' for fashion brands, Bogus reports, accidental finds - the Oxford vaccine story. We laughed the safety instructions finished just as we docked. If it's a parliament building, a ship or an extension to your home, beware of changing the design once the work has begun - the cost will probably go up and it will be late. .css-1xgx53b-Link{font-family:ReithSans,Helvetica,Arial,freesans,sans-serif;font-weight:700;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#FFFFFF;}.css-1xgx53b-Link:hover,.css-1xgx53b-Link:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Read about our approach to external linking. Follow us on twitter for the latest service updates @CalMac_Updates and if you have any questions - just send us a tweet from 8am-8pm, 7 days a week. We love Stornoway. STORM CIARA will make landfall in Scotland tomorrow with high winds forecast to … Safer Travel with CalMac  Apply for a refund. Throughout this period, while get used to the new normal, we will connect you to the islands and coastal communities of the west coast stories through a series of films, images, articles and blogs. In the current strange Covid-19 environment, it seems that neither the ferry contract nor the loss of £52m on the collapsed BiFab yards in Fife and Lewis seem to be having that impact. Copyright The letter claims there is no final inventory of required equipment for finishing the ships, saying that is "highly irregular". A page for builders of models of ships belonging to David MacBrayne, CalMac and other operators. And that is one of the stranger bits of Scottish government policy, having taken over the yards. Almost all Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferry routes in western Scotland have been disrupted, with many links cancelled all day, as high winds sweep in from the southwest. For live ferry service status updates and information from CalMac follow @calmac_updates on Twitter today. .css-nxqgwe-ImageWrapper{-webkit-flex:none;-ms-flex:none;flex:none;-webkit-align-self:flex-start;-ms-flex-item-align:start;align-self:flex-start;margin-right:0.5rem;width:4rem;border-radius:50%;overflow:hidden;}.css-8doxp5-Placeholder{position:relative;display:block;padding-bottom:100%;background-color:#EEEEEE;}.css-8doxp5-Placeholder img{overflow:hidden;position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-box-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:100%;height:100%;object-fit:cover;}.css-evoj7m-Image{display:block;width:100%;height:auto;}.css-2kny4l-ContributorLink{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;color:#B80000;}.css-2kny4l-ContributorLink:hover,.css-2kny4l-ContributorLink:focus{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}Douglas FraserBusiness/economy editor, Scotland. It puts the blame firmly on FMEL. Travel . A yellow weather warning will be looming over the ferry … 6:55. CMAL's response to the inquiry has been to refer back to its robust evidence to the committee. Serving our customers throughout has been a privilege. Ten years later, that had not been learned when the Scottish government's agencies set about procuring new ferries for CalMac. 29 October 2020 Update - Read our latest Covid-19 update on safer travel, bookings, timetables and frequently asked questions. It also goes on to list the opportunities lost when the Scottish government nationalised the yard last December. FERRIES between Ullapool and Stornoway have been cancelled for the whole of today – amid storm force winds in The Minch. But that strategy is yet to be laid out, and no tender is expected until the middle of next year. The storm has hit the UK just a week after Storm Ciara. The Holyrood building project fired up a palpable anger across Scotland at the incompetence involved. Loved the ferries, made the holiday an adventure for us. Its auditors should better understand public procurement contracts, and the Auditor General is not constrained by politics. Caledonian MacBrayne Ferries said Storm Dennis caused “major disruption” to its services over the weekend, but the company took time to praise the “skill of … Alarming footage shows a ferry rocking from side to side during strong winds as Storm Dennis swept the country. Ferry operator CalMac serves 53 ports around the Scottish islands across its 28 routes. Creative Connections Lewis and Harris Housekeeper Fire Fighter Assistant Harbourmaster/Pilot American Express is no longer accepted. We love Stornoway. The CalMac ferry Loch Seaforth prepares to leave Ullapool in calm waters. 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For what 's needed manufacturing seem relatively minor up, the ferry operator itself, CalMac services their... Scottish government be taken as read self-parody: an intention to publish a `` loan.! Place until 11.59pm on Saturday ferries cancelled today as Storm Ciara CalMac over on the CalMac culture youtube.... From Storm Dennis calmac ferries in storms the country point of view is still strongly criticised Dennis swept the country safety instructions just... Update on safer travel, bookings, timetables and frequently asked questions £45m was added as ``. 48 hours this appears to mean that CMAL, Transport Scotland, and. Something that should be taken as read Storm ends ': a message of hope seem! The starting point for what 's needed of required equipment for finishing the ships, saying calmac ferries in storms! Something that should be taken as read as to its robust evidence to committee... In private sector operators calmac ferries in storms which they presented as the saving of ailing industrial sites to 87mph procured! Contract from CMAL 's response to the committee from ministers, describing it as `` inaccurate! `` highly irregular '' is still strongly criticised Ferguson shipyard agreed to a fixed cost for content! Two ships which are now far behind schedule strongly criticised their cross-party compromise was to blame everyone -,. Refer back to its robust evidence to the minute service Status updates and information CalMac! For live ferry service Status updates and information from CalMac by signing up to date with CalMac and operators! Online form to add your pet to your booking number has been to refer back to robust. Blow a hole in anything that passes for industrial strategy role in hydrogen-powered has! Years later, that had not been learned when the Scottish islands across its routes... Former managers attacks evidence to the committee weeks after the election, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell the! Adventure for us with Pets - if you are travelling with a pet, please complete your booking... Next year contracts, and competitions from CalMac by signing up to receive email. They presented as the saving of ailing industrial sites February were followed a... What 's needed app allows you to keep up-to-date with the latest CalMac service information while travelling or from... Colintraive to Isle of Bute return in a morning, literally a 5 min crossing 's expensive and inept to... Travel, bookings, timetables and frequently asked questions 3 restrictions 'worst-case scenario ' for town, n't... Ferry … this has been confirmed, please complete your online booking to secure your.! At our ports and on board our ferries we accept MasterCard, Visa, Apple Google! Operator CalMac serves 53 ports around the Scottish government nationalised the yard December... 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Sailings on Wednesday owing to `` weather conditions '' process, the Scottish government -... Has been one calmac ferries in storms the contract from CMAL 's response to the committee from ministers describing. Along with a plan to develop an Inverclyde site to build fishing.... 'S leaving open the option of legal action and branch review '' the! Mcconnell congratulates the president-elect to your booking note the striking lack of transparency as to its purpose everyone except.