A row has broken out over the decision of a ferry captain to sail to the Western Isles with a storm brewing.
Another mariner has launched a broadside at the operator Caledonian MacBrayne saying the ferry was not fitted with lifeboats but an inflatable escape chute and inflatable liferafts that would be useless in a Force 11 gale.
CalMac is meanwhile insisting that all its captains are up to the job.
Capt Morris Macleod
Midway into the voyage, from Ullapool to Stornoway on Tuesday evening, the captain of the MV Hebrides, was told that Stornoway harbour was shutting because of the unsafe conditions and that he could not berth there.
The ferry had to turn round and return to Ullapool where the passengers had to sleep on its seats or pay for onshore accommodation. It finally left for Stornoway at 5.35pm tonight (Wed).
Now the master of the ferry has come under fire from another master mariner for deciding to sail at all with a severe weather forecast.
Captain Morris Macleod, a recently-retired oil installation platform manager and master mariner for decades, who lives near Stornoway, said: “The ferry captain sailed despite a Force 10 to 11 forecast. That is a blatant breach of CalMac’s own health and safety.
“On Tuesday evening they encountered 65 knots while still in Loch Broom before reaching open water. The captain made a horrendous mistake.”
A typical passenger chute like the one on the MV Hebrides – could it have been deployed in Tuesday’s ferocious gales in the Minch?
He said the Master had showed a serious lack of professional judgement in sailing from Ullapool with that weather forecast, adding: “The safety of his crew and passengers is of paramount importance and commercial considerations should never supersede this.”
The claims have split seafarers. Several experienced mariners criticised the former captain for speaking out while others thought he was “absolutely right” to raise his concerns.
Ferry company CalMac has so far refused to be drawn into a discussion over the concerns and criticisms raised by Capt Macleod. A spokesman said: “We have no comment to make other than that we stand by the professional judgement of our highly-experienced and highly-qualified Masters.
Last night, Capt Macleod said he was disappointed at the company’s response. He said: “The fact is that the MV Hebrides has no proper lifeboats like the regular ferry – just a Mass Evacuation System which, in fact, is just inflatable liferafts which the passengers access via an inflatable chute like you see on large aircraft.
“You simply could not even deploy it in storm force 11 conditions.”
He likened the decision to sail on Tuesday evening to that of the ill-fated Stranraer-to-Larne ferry Princess Victoria which sank after taking water by its stern on January 31, 1953.
He said: “It’s the same thing. She sailed when she should not have. Exactly 60 years later, CalMac is making the same mistakes at Ullapool. No lessons have been learned.”
As a non seafaring person… just an ordinary passenger..this scares me..I am due to travel next week.. The flybe prices are out my range. I am sure the political..PC people will come and slate me.I am glad Morris had the guts to speak out. I saw the forecast for yesterday..we all saw it..sigh
So Morris MacLeod (Cap. Ret) believes that the Hebrides is sailing without proper life rafts. If this is so, surely he is advertising the fact in the wrong place. Surely he should be contacting Board of Trade (or its modern equivalent).
Although this blog is quite popular, I don’t think it will be on the Maritime Agency’s list of priorities.
I suspect that Mr MacLeod (Cap.ret) is using this blog to “grandstand” and make himself feel important.
I have no knowledge of the specific requirements for life saving apparatus required on ferry’s such as the “Hebridies” and therefore can’t comment on whether his allegations are true or not. If he suspects that the ferry is sailing without proper life rafts, I urge him to make representations to the correct authorities, and If he is correct in his suspicions I’m sure he will get support from all ferry users.
I think a man in his position would serve the community better taking that course of action rather than scaremongering and putting unsuspecting travelers in fear of their lives
This Man ( Captain MacLeod ) is getting boring …. ” Yawn ”
Well Said Rory , Cal Mac ships have to be certificated and this is updated at every refit so there is no way they sail with anything illegal …
Old Duffer be assured you are in safe hands with Cal Mac Captains they have navigated those Ferries safely across the Minch for Many years ..
I do hope this attention seeker finds something constructive to do …
I think the bold captain is on to something here.
If he is let him do it in the proper place and in the proper manner.
With his previous rants and accusations he is making himself into look like an attention seeking has-been. This will detract from any legitimate statements that he may make.
Rory/Jubilee2 Go back and read the blog again. I am not suggesting the ferry does not meet regulatory requirements, of course she does, however, that inflatable MES would not have been deployable in the Minch on Tuesday night.
But Bet he likes us all talking bout him …he should be careful wot he says as i’m still 100% sure that Cal Mac ships do not sail with illegal equipment – they will have passed the Board of Trade inspection & have certificates that say so (is that the body who inpects ships ? ) … you are right Rory if he thinks this is the case he should bring it up with the relevant authorities …bet he would get short shrift … go on Foreign going Captain Next Rant ..wonder who’ll get it …
Obh Obh !!
Old Gaelic Proverb, “Far a taine`sa Abhainn,sann as mor a Fuam“ The Narrow part of Stream, makes the most noise..
or again ,“ Bo Falamh air a Buaile, sh`e as airde a Garthaich“ The empty Cow out on the Buaile, makes the most noise…Morris Macleod thinks he is a “Duine Mor“.both himself and the Harbour Master, Duine Mor..Big Man..
what a Pair…LOL
We know all Cal Mac ships meet the requirements – we trust our Cal Mac Ships ” Yawn ” find something else please to fill your day …
surely retirement is better than comments on parking tickets , ferry ramps and unecessary comments about our Professional Cal Mac Captains – yu must be one bored cap a tan lol lol
Im glad that Mr Macleod is concerned for peoples safety but I can’t understand how he thinks that his friend the harbour master closing the harbour and denying the passengers a safe haven isn’t a safety issue? Is this the same Mr Macleod who had previous issue with Calmac regarding access to the vessel via the car deck? And issue with the loading of cargo on the coaster Scot Isles and found to be wrong in both cases?? Maybe he should find a hobby to occupy himself.
Morris Macleod – I’ve done as you requested and re-read your article and it clearly states that the “the ferry was not fitted with appropriate lifeboats but an inflatable escape chute “. This leaves the reader with the impression that the ferry did not have the proper lifesaving equipment. Where-as you should have made it clear that this is only your opinion. The opinion of a retired man who’s last position wasn’t even as a sea Captain and I have been led to believe that it is some time since you were in command of a ship.
Perhaps equipment on-board ships has been modernised/improved since you were last in command of a ship and you don’t approve of modern equipment. This I can understand. Many old people don’t like change. But change happens (and not always for the best). So if you believe strongly enough about the safety arrangements on Cal-Mac ships I urge you to take your fears and opinions to the appropriate authorities.
If you can prove that Cal-Mac ships are operating in an un-safe manner I for one will stand by you.
But until then I think you should apologise to “Old Duffer” for putting him into a state of fear and alarm.
I remember this so called F/G (foreign going) mariner when he was still going to school. He was a loner then and seems nothings changed.
Capt Morris in fact challenges the stringent MCA classification applicable to the MV Hebrides and the conditions relative to her Passenger Certification. So unless the Shipping Co was actually breaching these conditions, not only does he say Calmac in the wrong, so too are the MCA and there professionally qualified surveyors. It is puzzling given the mostly hostile comments from other seafarers that he is exposing himself to even more ridicule. He has been shot down before poking his beak into local marine matters (Arnish) yet continues to stick his head above the wall. His present rank is ” also ran” Who listens to such ?
Me thinks this MR Morris MacLeod Guy is one of these people who may be of the type who the old saying applies “Those who CAN DO, those who CANT talk about it” Whats the big issue anyway? nobody hurt & Ferry safe, The man just likes to blow his Foghorn imo. Also whats this Capt thingy he likes to prefix his name with. I understand that civilian Masters of ships hold it purely to signify Rank onboard their ship and in relation to their command of the vessel. It is not a Title unlike forces Captains that can be used elsewhere, particularly as he looks like he’s been retired for some time he will not need it now, ie you shouldn’t have it on you Passport or any other official document eg. Maybe he will tell us he has it on his ! lol if he does he should not ! There are a few, thankfully not many of these call me Captain types swanning around ashore. However in my encounters afloat, the real deal are the Can Do Type.who go quietly about there work and just deal with issues in their stride. On the subject of abandonment by lifeboats verses liferafts I certainly know which one I would opt for and choose to disagree with Mr Morris MacLeod.
If the Captain was confident the boat was up to the job, and confident in his own skills as a Captain, then GOOD FOR HIM, for sailing. As a fairly regular passenger on the ferry I (and many others I know) are sick-fed-up of cancellations, usually on nothing more than whim! I’m sure a lot more Captains would be sailing in rough weather if their hands weren’t tied by CalMac red tape – or can’t they be bothered? – we’ve all heard the “don’t want to get stuck in Ullapool so we’re not sailing at all,” excuse!
Passengers are not stupid! If they’re poor sailors or scared of the gales then they’re free to choose not to travel. I loathe sailing when it’s rough, and usually spen all 3 hours out on the deck wrapped up in my woolies trying to keep my breakfast down. But I’d infinitely rather a bumpy journey and the freedom to choose, than have my holiday/trip/appointment wrecked.
CONGRATULATIONS to the Captain of MV Hebrides! Buck stops at the Harbour Master!
Ian X.
With regard to you editing story’s after they have been published and commented on.
In my opinion, in general, you should not edit out possibly libellous statements made by those interviewed by you. If they made the statements to you , then the statement should stand. Especially when the removal /alteration substantially changes the whole context of the article.
If you made a mistake in your reporting of his statement or if he retracts his statement you should clarify this in a foot note along with an apology if necessary. This would help reinforce your position as an impartial and accurate reporter.
I offer this not as a criticism but as an observation, as some of the comments may seem “dis-jointed” from the modified article.
Worth a listen, “Lest we forget”. Also, “lessons to be learnt”, from this tragedy. I was six years’ old at this time. My late father was Minister at Ervie/Kirkcolm.near Stranraer, and was absent from home for days, ministering to bereaved families:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01qcqdf
RIP.
I agree Rory ..the Cap a tan should be very careful what he says in future a rant to far this time IMHO … I think the unedited version should also be posted again so that any further posters will know the content that the rest of us were commenting on ….. So Please Ian X add the original as was
Pity he’s too Old to be gainfully employed he’d be too occupied to make such silly remarks … he’s one Bored and Boring Retired Forgeign Going Captain
ZZZZzzzzzzz
Is there an outbreak of :MEGALOMANIA is a psychopathological disorder where in the person experiences delusional fantasies of greatness, wealth, grandeur, omnipotence and superiority. The person with this type of mental illness will be obsessed with doing extravagant things, will think only about themselves, will not have any concern for others and will have lust for power and money. A megalomaniac person will also exaggerate his/her talent in an unrealistic egoistic way, consider them as unique and will be self centred. According to the experts, this mental disorder is related to Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) which means self-love.
One of the best examples of a megalomaniac in the history was Adolf Hitler.
I for one, as a regular ferry passenger, would not have even considered getting on that ferry on Tuesday evening. I would have used my common sense and came to the conclusion NO CHANCE! If Captain Macleod has genuine concerns for people’s safety then good for him for speaking out and shame on those who vilify him for it and really, personal attacks on the man, pathetic!
I, as a regular ferry passenger would have no problem traveling on the ferry on Tuesday evening. If Morris Macleod (Cap. Ret) has genuine concerns for people’s safety then good for him for speaking out. But do it in the proper place and in the proper manner. Scaremongering and “grandstanding” are not the way to go about it.
I have not slagged him off or decried his experience or qualifications, unlike his open criticism of the Captain of the Hebrides . Other people may have been a tad heavy on him, but they obviously know him better than I do.
If formal complaints are made about anonymous comments made here then the police will always be able to track down who made them. I think everyone needs to be aware of that.
There are those that do,and those that have.On balance l lean towards those that can and do.Given that all boats have a built in capacity to sink,up to date handling skills by those in charge are well appreciated.
flyingpoker – I totally agree
And I think that sentiment is a good way to end this particular story. : )
Note with interest yet another public intervention by Morris Macleod reference safety issues at sea. As a serving shipmaster I do not believe that it is necessary or wise to highlight these issues in the press prior to discussing them with the relevant authorities i.e. the MCA and the management of Calmac. If, after doing so, you get no satisfaction then by all means highlight your concerns in the press. The facts are that the Hebrides and all her LSA (Lifesaving appliances) are approved, certified and annually tested by the MCA. Whether you wish to abandon ship in a force 11 (heaven forbid) into a liferaft or lifeboat is immaterial here as both systems are approved for ship abandonment for the trade that the vessel is engaged in. What is not immaterial however is the fact that your chances of survival in either case are minimal if you attempt to abandon in these conditions in open waters!! This therefore begs the question as to whether the ship should have sailed with that forecast. I live on the south shore of the entrance to Loch Broom and can see the ferry leaving the sheltered confines of the loch from my front window. (Homesick every night I do!!). When she sailed on the evening in question there was a gale blowing but it was not 60 knots. The forecast however was for a severe gale and the Master of the Hebrides was surely in receipt of that forecast. In assessing his chances of getting across the Minch prior to the weather reaching it’s most severe (the forecast was for the worst winds to occur around 0300 the following morning) he would have used his experience of the passage, the capabilities of his ship to handle bad weather and to berth in poor conditions at SY. I trust that as the Master of the vessel he was better qualified to handle these immediate appraisals than Morris Macleod or any other Master who has not handled this particular vessel. I should like to believe that commercial considerations did not enter into his decision making but both Morris Macleod and every other serving shipmaster has been subjected to pressure to sail by shore interests when their own inclination was to hang fire – that is the reality of commercial shipping. Finally, may I say that I cannot understand why SY harbour was closed. I have berthed a 50 metre coaster there on several occasions – one night we successfully accomplished it at Esplanade Quay with 50 knots of southerly wind blowing. I believe that the Harbourmaster was being over cautious but as he has no command experience and very little shiphandling experience this is maybe not surprising.
In addition to my previous entry please note that I omitted to conclude by stating that it is, of course, the prerogative of the harbourmaster to close the port at any time unless it is requested as a harbour of refuge. However……!?!?
Very succinctly put, Captain AMML and an excellent summation of the whole sorry situation, largely triggered by Morris Macleod seeking to 1. Get his name in the headlines and 2. To come to the aid of his beleagured mate, who I bet wishes Capt Morris had get his gob shut.
Spot on AMML. The Harbour Master who I understand is better suited to being behind a desk in a cosy office than at sea would have made a RISK ASSESSMENT !! but it would have been flawed Due to his lack of knowledge and experience of the subject matter. Speaking with guys I know from Lewis the feedback is that the guy should not be in the job. They dont have a good word for the Morris fellow either. Thats moderating the opinions expressed lol Both appear to have tarnished the good name Stornoway seamen have and not for the first time in the case of the Morris guy . One of the Stornoway Lads knew him from out here (North Sea) where he was regarded as a bit of a pompos, opinionated, big headed joke. Just count myself lucky he’s not around the North Sea these days. I hope to visit Stornoway in May, Harbour Master and weather permitting, should I go by plane or cross via Skye that is the question mmm. ach I’ll take a chance and go by Ullapool.
i hear it looks as if the MCA may have enough evidence for an inquiry. If so the keyboard warriors on here who have attacked captian morris are going to look very stupid. I hope he sues and that your identities are all revealed. i supect it will be interesting.
@malcolm So Capt Macleod can attack without bring sued? By his own deeds he has attracted much criticism. He would need a very sharp lawyer to successfully sue anyone for telling the truth. He has his opinion and those who don’t agree have theirs. No one was every convicted for telling the truth. You in the SS too? You won’t gag the Leodashochs with such threats of suing I’m afraid although this is often the reaction of big heads. If he wants any credability he should apologise to the Calmac master for acting unprofessionally. If he has such concerns he ought to have gone privately to Calmac and MCA as Rollo said first and he could have avoided all of this.
Did the CalMac master contact SY harbourmaster prior to leaving Ullapool, I wonder? As a passenger I would’ve thought the weather merited a bit of discussion between the two parties prior to sailing under those conditions. Or is that just common sense? Either way the passengers had a pretty horrible and wasted journey. Ultimately all this does is flag up the inadequate communication between the vessel and the harbourmaster…which is a real concern.
I guess it will all get resolved in the MCA inquiry. As for having faith in the captains…I’ve been on CalMac’s Uig-Lochmaddy ferry and watched the captain put a bloody big hole in the side by smacking her into the quay in a flat calm. We had to spend the night in Uig on board while she was patched up. It was a long time ago but it left an impression alright! Still, on that occasion the master put safety first. Though I think the official reason for not sailing was ‘bad weather’…
So “Malcom” has heard a rumour that the MCA may start an investigation. Into what? A vessel turning back to harbour? Or, a Harbour master denying a vessel safe refuge. If there were an enquiry The Harbour Master should not escape unscathed. As for Mr Morris MacLeod suing anyone. I think he has left himself wide open for prosecution with his statement as per the original posting i.e. before Ian X edited out the crucial libellous statement.
AMML – It good to hear such a well-balanced and informative reply, from a serving Captain with experience in the Minch and in particularly berthing in Stornoway in adverse weather.
Rory – try and get your facts right . the captain did not turn back until he was ordered to . If you dont know what you re talking about do us a favour and keep quite .
Malcom – To the best of my knowledge no one can order a ships Captain to do anything. I suggest you get your facts right.
As for your statement that the MCA are going to have an inquiry. Where did you get that info from ? Or did you just make it up to muddy the waters. I suspect that you are one of the many that start rumors knowing that there is no truth in them. Why let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Indeed. Some of the comments on here are rather pejorative. As for tarnishing the good name (ahem) of Stornoway…bit late for that, and the vitriol on show isn’t helping. But do keep it up, it’s entertaining if nothing else.
gotta laugh at some people on this island, as soon as the ferry is cancelled due to bad weather they are moaning saying it should sail and then when they get a ferry that is a better sea boat that sails in bad weather they are moaning saying it shouldnt be sailing. plus, whoever made the decision to close the harbour should be sacked!!
Anna Mackay’s question ["Did the CalMac master contact SY harbourmaster prior to leaving Ullapool, I wonder"] would be better framed the other way round.
Recent events suggest a change in policy at Stornoway Harbour whereby in adverse weather conditions the port authority is not prepared to deploy personell as linesmen to receive ship’s ropes. Is CALMAC aware of this?.Indeed is the travelling public aware of this? On the face of it not, or else the boat wouldn’t have left Ullapool and ALL this hoohah could have been averted.
What are the future implications for travelling Islanders concerning the berthing of vessels in Stornoway in bad weather? Ulllapool Harbour is subject to worse wind conditions (funelling up or down Loch Broom coupled with kabatic effects of high ground nearby) Was there any suggestion that Ullapool would not put men out to take ropes when the ferry returned? or in future? Was the ferry “ordered” back as Malcolm suggests? If so by who?
The Calmac master obviously had confidence to make the crossing and berth- his life is as precious as anyone else’s! and it would not be the first time in the long history of Stornoway harbour that a ship “dodged” off the Harbour for a while until there was a lull.
Anna Mackay seems to have got it right- breakdown in comms, exacerbated by an unprofessional retired capt who successfully spawned a sea of vitriol as a result of a comment he saw on Twitter (or whatever) and without any detailed knowledge of the facts.
The MCA owes to the travelling public to thoroughly investigate all of the circumstances and publish its findings if only to reasure us mere mortals that our interests are being looked after. Even in the highly unlikely event of MCA saying the vessel ought not to have sailed, Morris Macleod would still be 100% in the wrong in the way he sought to address his concerns.
Cml & Frigate ,
You are , in my opinion , 100% right.
If I remember correctly the storm was not due till about 3am the following morning, some 5 hrs after the ferry would have berthed in Stornoway.
I’m afraid that the harbour master has done a lot of damage to the reputation as fair haven in bad weather.
As for Mr Morris MacLeod, I would be interested to see his qualifications to see if he indeed reached the qualification of Master Mariner, as opposed to a Captain. The term Master Mariner is often used in-correctly by people who have only reached the post of Captain. I say this, as so far his actions are very un-profesional, and not the actions of a Master Mariner.
If my suspicions are wrong and he has attained the qualification of Master Mariner , I offer him an unreserved and complete apologie.
Hi Carpetbagger,
You hit the Nail in the Head with your Post, i was on the Rig`s with Morris, i was also at Sea with his father, i have Sailed with many Master Mariners over they Years, you do get the odd bad ones, thats Human nature, we are not all perfect.
I was also on the Stornoway run, with Cal-Mac, i remember my first contact with the then newly appointed Harbour Master, as we were going alongside the Berth, just yards out, he came Storming down the Pier, shouting at our Master, not to come in any closer, due to the Weather, we were that close to Tie up, the Sailor`s had the Heaving Lines in their Hand, it became apparent to us all, at this early stage in his appointment as Harbour Master, that we had a right character here….
The rank of Captain does not officially exist in the British Merchant Navy. Neither does anyone gain a qualification as Captain. The term Captain is merely used to describe, incorrectly, the role of a person who is in command of a vessel, in the same vein as Skipper, Old Man etc. When a person attains the highest qualifications that can be attained under the British system he gets a Master’s Certificate or, as it is more correctly termed nowadays, a Class 1 Master Mariner. The term Captain is often used by people in the Merchant Navy because they love the sound of it I guess! Captain is only a rank in the Military where it is conferred on you as a Queen’s Commission, I think. Even when a man is given command of a British Merchant ship he signs on as Master on the articles exempted list and nowhere in any documentation does the term Captain appear. So, if any Merchant Navy qualified personnel tell you that they are a Captain, or bestow the term Captain on themselves, you can tell them without any fear of being sued that they are full of cac!! If they want to be so called they can join the Military, or the Salvation Army, although the latter organsiation may be loathe to take people full of cac!
AMML – Thanks for the clarification .
I was under the impression that a title Captain was a licensed mariner in ultimate command of a vessel. Whereas a Master Mariner was a Captain with an unlimited licence or certificate to operate any size of ship worldwide.
I stand corrected.
Every day a school day : )
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=captain%20mccrindle&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pressandjournal.co.uk%2FArticle.aspx%2F910465&ei=O7YPUYueOsXP0QXi2oCgCg&usg=AFQjCNF0SLWefxqZQLhaqptgeujdlnRcSw
If anyone is interested in learning more about the research/analysis currently being conducted into ship evacuation systems and the simularion and actual methods that are used to test them, may I recommend a look at http://www.safeguardproject.info/ or a browse at the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) website and particularly their circular MSC 1238, if my memory serves me right.