Wakened by the weather. I see on Facebook some idiots are criticising the Stornoway Harbour Master for closing the port thus forcing the mv Hebrides to turn back.
The Master of the mv Hebrides showed a serious lack of professional judgement in sailing from Ullapool with that weather forecast. The safety of his crew and passengers is of paramount importance and commercial considerations should never supersede this.
As a Master Mariner (Foreign Going) for over 40 years I am appalled at the decision to attempt to transit the Minch given the forecast. You can quote me on this.
Regards,
Captain Morris Macleod
Agree. Aproaching the 60th anniversary of the ferry Princess Victoria Disaster, Stranraer to Larne crossing, with the loss of so many lives, safety of crew and passengers should always be paramount. All reports following this tragedy stated emphatically that she should not have sailed, given the forecast.
Absolutely disgraceful to see one Captain criticising the actions of another! The Captain of the MV Hebrides should be congratulated for at least making the effort to get his passengers to their distination (something that’s usually sadly lacking on Cal Mac ferries). It appears to be the Stornoway Harbour master that put the lives at risk by his actions, But then, this is Lewis – what do we expect!!
Whilst the opinions posted above are a little similar to my own. I’d just like to say that the above was not posted by me, but by a “friend” whilst I was in the Ladies. I have asked for it to be deleted.
The Cal Mac Skippers are Damned If They Do, Damned If They Don’t
If it sits in the Harbour I’ve heard folk say ” its only a breeze ”
Those Skippers would never put the safety of their passengers or crew at risk never have ….. Its not very professional of another skipper to have made such a comment he wasn’t there …. I have a lot of admiration for our Cal Mac Captains they have been bringing us too and from from the mainland without loss of life for many years ….but who is the attention seeker ” Foreign Going” Indeed
Lol ….
Onwards and Upwards Cal Mac Captains you all do an excellent professional job and thanks for that
60 years’ ago to this very day:
A total of 67 bodies were recovered from the sea after the Princess Victoria sank.
Only 44 of the 177 people who set out on the crossing are known to have survived. The captain went down with his ship.
An inquiry into the disaster was told the rescue ship, HMS Contest, took longer than expected to reach the Princess Victoria because of confusion over her exact position.
The captain continued to give her position off the Scottish coast until minutes before she sank when he radioed to say the Irish coast was visible.
The inquiry concluded the ferry owners were to blame for the poor design of the stern doors.
The highest civilian award for bravery, the George Cross, was given posthumously to the ferry’s radio operator, David Broadfoot, who remained at his post sending out messages for assistance until the ship sank.
30th January known in Ness as Oidhche a’ Chlan MacQuarrie. Ran aground off the Butt on 30 Jan 1953.
Captain “Crasher” Macleod, not for the first time has engaged the largest and most dangerous organ in his body without first requesting the chief engineer to put his brain in gear. He wasn’t there and is in no position to question the captain of the Heb’s decision. And the Tina comment was at least half right. It is very unprofessional for one captain to criticise another especially via the Internet .
Some people will do anything (as we saw with the high drama over his wrong parking ticket) to get their “name in the Gazette” Any seafarer worth his salt knows NE is the dangerous wind in the Minch With westerly the ship is making more shelter all the way across. And was the Harbour at Stornoway closed? If so this is a 1st in its 200 odd year history.
I find it totally disgraceful and absolutely disrespectful that a (shoreside) master mariner should dare to give his opinion as to over rule the decision taken by the Ferry skipper to set sail from Ullapool (Tuesday 29 January 2013). Tina, you ought to congratulate your friend for posting her forthright opinion (which is spot on) and thank you Mr X for not deleting it.Mr Morris I also have been a mariner and was watching the seas yesterday evening and along with the then weather forecast I found no reason why the ferry could not make the journey. You are quick to shout that you have 40 years Master service to boast about. Mr Morris with all due respect, with the modern technology available to day it is folk like you who keep us here in these Islands “back in the day`s.”
If you care to look on facebook you may note that a certain popular local boy Mr John Maclennan (though not a seasoned mariner), managed to come from the south of Harris to Stornoway in a decent swell with a small but apt boat in a good time aided by the weather AND ON AUTO PILOT.
Mr Morris this is why you are now shoreside. Leave the Skippering to the well abled skippers and thank G-d you are not in charge of aircraft causing panic every time the wind blows. Stop letting office power rule your brain.
“Harbour Master closes Port Forcing MV Hebrides to turn round”, DENYING A SHIP A SAFE HAVEN.. I do not think it is the master of the Hebrides whom should be called to question but the fool denying access to the safe haven..
Enfield, Spot on the man should be Quartered. What I would like to know is who gave him this charge? He needs a come uppance and I for one would suspend him and then sack him. Grr! yes I am angry, Why? why? why? should he get off with it?
I just had to come back & say – Well said Doodah & Atlantic Fish my own words exactly – this is an attention seeker and without doubt unprofessional to make such a comment about a truly professioinal Captain –
I also agree with your friend Tina , spot on !
Those Captains see the worst of weather and no loss of Life to date .
Thanks again to them for their skills in handling their Ships
‘s math a rinn thu
I , like many people have often criticized the Skipper of the ferry for not sailing in a bit of wind. This is my privilege as a fare paying passenger. I criticize with the knowledge that I don’t have the lives of several hundred people in my hands.
The Skipper of the ferry would not listen to my criticisms – nor should he.
The same as he should not listen to that “T***” Morris MacLeod.
The Captain of the ferry is responsible for the lives of his passengers and crew and when at sea answers to no man. He is the man on the spot. Taking all things into consideration, wind, tide, the vessel under him and a multitude of other things, he makes the decisions, and only him.
Morris MacLeod (Captain ret) is highly un-professional in his criticism of a serving Captain from the comfort of his fireside.
As for the harbor being closed – that’s got to be a first – and a last I hope.
I feel obliged to add comment.
No.1 The M.V Hebrides is regarded as one of Calmacs most able vessels (both at sea and berthing)
No. 2 The Captain is regarded as a very experienced and able ship handler proven over many years
No. 3 Stornoway Harbour should have informed the vessel of its intention to close BEFORE it left Ullapool, Not when she was well on her way across the Minch, denying the ship and it’s passengers a safe haven.
No. 4 It is a disgrace that another Master Mariner (foreign going or not) publicly attacks the ships Captain. Highly unprofessional. Maybe Retired ‘Captain’ Macleod shouldn’t be basing these decisions on his own ship handling abilities.
Would hate to be on the ferry last night….feel really sorry for those people on it last night including the crew ,,,,,
Take take your internet bashing out on the captain……….He made the right decison to turn back rahter than risk the middel of the minch whiche we all know is the worst bit of it…….
Maybe some protocols need to be in place,,,,,,or a bigger stronger ship…..the irsh crossing have better ships,,,,,they can sail in almost any weather as does the orkney island ones..
Maybe the new ferry won’t be adequate enough for this kind of weather…
@ Andrew Walker…..appreciate the history notes my freind…..good to learn something new every day……
Sorry Take Take should
be Dont Take*
I reckon that to a certain extent all points are valid,Blame the harbour master for closing,blame the skipper for sailing,It is a matter of opinion ,i would think it better to err on side of caution,If ferry sank who would be to blame?Who would take responsibility?
God, of course.
I would be interested to hear the thoughts of the passengers on this sailing.
would imagine if god was aboard instead of turning back they would have walked on water
Some very unfortunate comments have been pinned here by some obviously poorly informed people. Having only been at sea for 21 years myself, I must say that much as we do not wish to criticise colleagues publicly, the overriding consideration must always be safety.
How many tragedies have happened where people have said it was an accident waiting to happen – - but they said nothing until disaster struck. It was not easy for Captain Macleod to say that but his focus has always had to be safety.
On balance, he should be commended. It is not nice to be criticised in public but if that is what it takes to tighten up procedures so be it. Yes, there ought to be an inquiry. Everyone knows the forecast was hellish.
John
Morris MacLeod (Cap. ret) should not publicly attack the ferry Skipper unless he had all the facts !
Was he on the bridge of ferry at the time?
Or was he sitting in front of the telly !
It’s very easy to criticize from an armchair or bar stool.
The Master of the vessel made the decision and had anything gone wrong he would take the blame. As it turned out, he had to re-evaluate his decisions due to changing circumstances and brought the vessel back to harbor safely with minimal discomfort to his passengers.
That’s what he is paid for and as far as I can see he did his job to the best of his abilities.
Well said Rory
Well Said Rory !!!
Very well said Rory … The Retired ” Foreign going ” Captain should button it …. wonder what his next rant will be ..he’s done the Parking bit ..topped it with his Criticism of our much esteemed Cal Mac Captain.. Tra la la ..la la
I have also been at Sea, for as long as i can remember, in fact i was at sea at one time with Captain Morris Macleod`s Father.
Both Morris Macleod and the Stornoway Harbour Master, are not the most popular Master Mariners, i was on an Oil Rig with Morris Macleod, the Crew were glad to see the back of him, he was shifting Master,
As for Torquil Macleod, by far the most unpopular Harbour Master the Port has ever had, i have been with Cal Mac myself, i have seen and heard him in Action,i recall on Day he stood on the Jetty, like a man possed with Demons, while i was on Aft Stations, waving his Arms up in the Air, shouting in a loud angry voice, at our Captain, not to Berth his Ship, due to the weather, the Ferry came alongside as normal, , he just came down with his side-kick, no warning had been given over theVHF, the Ferry was already within Heaving line Distance from the Pier, i could say more…
But thats some Islanders for you, give some People a Uniform, or Authourity, and thats it…its the same down at the Airport, with security.
The Master of the Ferry would not have put his Crew in Danger, but you will always get those Armchair Critics saying something daft.
I have to come back just to correct a error for addressing Mr Macleod as Mr Morris. I most certainly will not address him as Captain or Master for that matter. He may have been a mariner for 40 years but I should like to see his service record that say`s he sailed as foreign going Master in actual charge of his ship for 40 years. Any professional skipper with that kind of experience just would not have taken the action that he took especially in a public forum. Shame on him. For the do gooders that don`t get it, you must realise that the ferry was underway before she was turned back at the Priest Islands, a whole hour into her journey and the gale that was forecast was at least another 2 hours away and sea conditions were good but bit rough giving ample time for mv Hebridies to be tied up at Stornoway with the assistance of the south westerly winds. But of course as the local busses had given notice that the last services from Stornoway to outlying areas would stop at 6.10pm I`m sure it would serve notice for the power that be in the harbour office that he should overrule the choices of a master mariner that there would be no berth for him in Stornoway should he continue. Surely Mr Morris Macleod was denying the ferry and her passengers a safe haven to land and at the same time endangering their lives by turning the ship around. Cal Mac skippers on these routes are some of the best in the world, going down the line from Captain Smith of the Loch Seaforth who never missed a sail in all his years. If the passenger didn’t want to go because of the weather then it was his/her choice not to do so, but like a train it never stopped the Ferry from sailing. Get a life Mr Macleod and take a leaf out the old timers book and please stay ashore.
I have been many Years at Sea, i have also been with Cal-Mac, i was even at Sea with Morris Macleod`s Father, and Morris Himself was Shifting Master on the Borgholm Dolphin Rig, while i was there myself , a very unpopular Man, in many ways, i could say a few things, best not .
Captain Torquil Macleod, most unpopular Harbour Master ever, to join the Authourity, seen him in action, he did the same thing to the Muirneag one Morning as she was just yards Heaving line distance from the Pier, as i said in a previous blog, he was like a man possessed by Demon`s, shouting up at the Bridge, not to Berth, the man is an Idiot, those with Yachts, and fishing Boats have no time for him, i know some Pier workers that left, because of him
I have no doubt, he got the Harbour Master`s position through the Mason`s, the Port Authority is infested with them, and not through his knowledge of the Sea.
You guys can fight/slate all you like..I am asking what the people ( punters) felt..I have to sail on this vessel next week..I am not happy at all..Please note..I am non PC..a granny..I am not on this blog to score points..I am just scared..I know we cant fix weather..BUT would rather cancel than put myself and family at risk..I saw the forecast..we all saw the forecast last night..just saying
Old Duffer, fear not you can be rest assured that the Skipper/Master of these vessels will not put your life/lives at risk. It is only glory seekers like Mr Morris Macleod (Harbour Officer) who for their inflated egos only put fear into innocent travellers like yourself. Even with a good swell and roll us Islanders were brought up with what to expect while on the water. Although the sea is wild it is travelled with respect, and though you are been tossed about a bit rest assured you are in safe hands. SHIPS CREW WILL NOT ENDANGER YOUR LIFE. So enjoy your trip and look at the water with respect for the men in charge. Don’t listen to egoists like Mr Macleod, if he was so experienced as he say`s he is, I should imagine he would be in his eighties. But he`s not. He`s just a sprog who I believe was brassed off oil rigs.
Thanks Atlanic fish.. I have been around a long time, have had some hairy crossings…Never sick, even go out for a fag in scary crossings. Honestly have never been concerned..I have to trust the man at the helm….This blog and facebook have scared me..I was around from Loch Seaforth days..Maybe it is an age thing Thanks anyway mate
Old Duffer, All vessels opperated by Cal Mac must adhere to stringent safety protocol as laid down ny the MCA, this is to include methods of escape, tests on this method of deployment were tested in the Minch.
Enfelid I hear you…. but..I also heard the chaos last night..it was chaos.one of my customers were on that ferry..they were terrified..I dont blame them
@ old duffer…….. Having just come off the ferry this evening and being on it last night I am puzzled by your last post…. There was no ‘chaos’ last night, in fact tonight’s crossing was more bumpy! Please do not comment if you were not present yourself, this is how rumours start.
Old duffer bless you, but dare I say you are more at harm with the fag in your mouth LOL. Let me assure you that the gales you heard last night occurred at approximately the same time forecast as high tide (approx 2130 hrs). AFTER the ferry`s estimated time of arrival at Stornoway. The Captain of the vessel would have had this information to hand and with the wind behind him would have made the journey in good time. Passengers on the ferry tend to be frightened in such conditions but I can never in the history of Macbraynes or Cal Mac recollect a Ferry ever been made to turn back because some halfwit ASHORE made him do so, no wonder why passengers got a fright. To be honest, I hope this man is questioned about his selfish act to be popular.
Old Duffer
A rough crossing on the ferry is a matter of opinion. Being well acquainted with the sea my opinion as to whether it is a rough crossing will differ from the opinion of a holiday maker from the center of London.
I actually prefer “rough weather”. It means I don’t have to Que for food in he cafe : )
Jubilee2 Well spotted, I have asked Iain to remove one word in the blog “appropriate”. It now accurately reflects what I said. Again, thanks for that.
Not sure just exactly how much the opinions of the passengers on the boat matter. They saw the weather and knew the forecast, and no one took away their freedom to decide “nah, this one’s going to be too bumpy, I’ll leave it til tomorrow!!”
Tina, exactly right, just like I said in a previous post. The Loch Seaforth never missed a trip in all weathers and that in itself was a five hour journey but just like a train it was going anyway it`s up to you if you go or do you stay. Every one today is pampered too much just like Mr Macleod who preferred much of his foreign going time on STATIONARY oil platforms.
Wow. You guys really don’t like it when somebody sticks their head above the parapet, do you?! Anybody would think there’s a marine mafia at work in the back alleys of Stornoway…
I very much doubt whether Mr Macleod or the harbourmaster give a toss if they’re liked or not. ‘Popular’ isn’t on the job description for master mariners or harbourmasters, nor should it be. As it stands mr macleod expressed an opinion, that is all. Judging by the responses it sounds like he has a valid point too.
Anna MacKay – If you had read both Mr Morris MacLeods original statements you would have seen that it was not clear that he was offering an opinion but that it was a fact that the ferry was sailing without proper lifesaving equipment. Also he offered his opinions/facts in a dis-tasteful manner.
Instead of taking his observations to the MCA he preferred to bad-mouth the Captain of the MV Hebrides on this blog. Also he insists on calling himself Captain and Master Mariner. Being that he is not in the armed forces, his title of Captain should have disappeared with his last command. I believe his last command was in excess of 20 years ago. The civilian title of Captain does not follow him into retirement. His title is now Mr MacLeod. This pompous attitude tends to rub people up the wrong way. As for the ridicule he has attracted from people that have worked with him, it only goes to show how much he was respected by his fellow workers. Respect is earned, it is not an automatic right. It is quite obvious that Mr Morris MacLeod has not earned any- or at least very little. AS I have said before if Mr M MacLeod can prove that the ferry is operating dangerously, he will find many supporters on this blog, including myself.
Interesting that the anonymous captain of the vessel hasn’t put their tuppence worth in. Or maybe they’re looking at the forecast for the week ahead. I hear there’s a storm coming.
The only actual distasteful comments I can see are coming from the Para Handy posse in the comments on here. It would appear they’re indulging in some ill-advised trolling but keep it moving, it’s making for a great story! I can see the headlines now: “Storm in Stornoway’s teacup”.
Hi Anna,
Im ex Cal Mac, we were advised Gagged, in other words, not to comment or get involved in any dispute, in was not in our intrest to comment, on things…..
that was the position, when i was there..
Shonnie Bioda – Nothing unusual in company’s asking employees not to comment or make statements to the media regarding the company or company policy. Most companies prefer to make contact with the media via press officers and the like. In fact most employment contracts have some sort of gagging clause in them. You may make a statement in good faith only to have it twisted by some unscrupulous reporter, so companies prefer you to say nout. This will also apply to the Master of the Hebrides.
Have we got an answer yet to the question posed in the title? “So why did the ferry Hebrides set off from Ullapool last night with a raging storm forecast?” What are the facts regarding the decision? I’m a frequent traveller on the Hebrides and the Isle of Lewis and have always felt completely confident, if not always completely well, on both vessels!
You are spot on Rory, thats the way it is exactly, I remember once, this ruling was side stepped by a past Master on the Muirneag, he was only a temp, via an Agency,not a Cal-Mac Master, just up for a short spell, it was at the time when Councillor Macsween, was trying to get in, Wannabe Macsween, came down to the Muirneag, to get his Photograph taken by the Freight Ferry, he was acting the [Big Man] ,ranting and raving about the Freight service, as if he was the Main Man, to put things right, he then had his story printed in the Gazette.
He was only after points, to make a name for himself, but it did not work, it all backfired, for him, you do get, those types on Lewis…acting the big man.
on this rare occasion, the Master spoke up, put him, right in his place, but as you correctly say, the Master or Crew will not comment…..
Like i said in a Previous Blog, “Empty Vessle makes most noise“
Aye, Aye C`ptain Foreign Going Master Harbourmaster Sir`s, That darn Hebrides Skipper is at it again! While every one on here is busy sniping at one another, no-one seems to notice that through this weekend of Storms, gales, rain and hail (hell) and snow showers, while we have all been snug in our warm homes, Sunday included, mv Hebrides has been soldiering on almost non stop plying the Minch with her wares .Goodness knows what time after 11pm she berthed and sailed from Stornoway on Sunday night but she was again noticed on AIS Shipping RETURNING from ULLAPOOL early Monday morning and has since returned to Ullapool, if that isn’t enough at this very moment as I write this, she can be seen on AIS heading toward Stornoway yet again, 6 crossings since this time yesterday. Oh Lord do these guy`s get any sleep…? Now before you poor wee souls start panicking…there will be more than one Captain aboard and I don’t mean Herr`s Mcleod and (ret)Morris, but worthy Cal Mac stalwarts. Don’t you think we should give these Captains and crews a hearty message of thanks for doing what is “JUST DOING THEIR JOB”…three cheers hip,! hip!Hooray!
Well playing devil’s advocate perhaps it’s time for Iain X to put a freedom of information request into CalMac and see how many of their other West Coast vessels decided to sail that evening? They’re legally obliged to tell us. I’d just be curious. At the end of the day nobody was injured so no harm done…and ultimately if the passengers were that fearful of making the journey they wouldn’t have got on board. If there’s really anything for CalMac to worry about they’d probably have put out a well-crafted response by now.
Reply to Catriona Morrison,
Hi Catriona, the answer to your question is probably down to the very latest WX equipment, provided by Cal-Mac on the Bridge of the Ship,
The Weather Picture you see on TV at home, is not the Weather Picture, that the Master looks at, many Ships nowadays, have the very latest equipment, like
CeeFax..Navtex…FX410, The best NOAA Recivers..
this type equipment, gives the Master, a good Picture of whats going on, and what is about to happen, part of a Master Mariner`s training, amoung many other things, is Meteorology, they also have the very best, Tidal prediction Data on hand, as a Mariner myself, i put to you, that the above, plus experience, from this and more, the Master will not only make his decision to Sail the Ship, also the Course to take during the passage, to make the Ship as cumfortable, and safe as possible, for the Passengers .
Catriona and Anna. so why did the chicken cross the road ? same answer as to your query…i.e “Why did Ferry leave Ullapool..blah! blah!” To get to the other side. Now give us peace with your silly questions and leave well alone!
A silly question, atlanticfish? I’m sorry. It wasn’t intended as such. I was genuinely interested in hearing the truth of the matter as I have every faith in MV Hebrides and her masters. The ship has an excellent record and has never failed to get me to my destination. That has sometimes involved changing course and going part of the way back across the Minch to catch a “soirbheas” (favourable wind) and, a couple of times ending up in Ullapool instead of Uig, where the wind was against her, but we made it. And thanks, shonnie Bioda, for your explanation, which I don’t pretend to understand, but the rigour you describe is exactly what I’d expect.
It’s very easy for someone hiding behind a pseudonym to suggest our questions are silly but then that’s an opinion and nobody was ever lynched or having one of those…unless of course they happen to live in Stornoway!
At the end of the day WE are the passengers using the ferry. I’ll email CalMac myself and ask them. They might drag their heels but it’s public information.
Sorry Anna and Catriona i did`nt mean to be cruel, if I was I could have said “stupid” It`s just that this topic if you read all previous posts you will understand that this question has been answered in so many different way`s, in other words, it`s become “old hat” hence one would be “silly” not to understand by now, that it was a “storm in a teacup” much about nothing but about two individuals who happened to put their foot in it for their claim to fame. “Over and out” (sea term).
I can verify the earlier comments that suggest that the Master of the ferry will have a clause in his contract forbidding him to talk to the press or public without the sanction of his employers – this is normal in all contracts signed by seafarers nowadays. There is therefore as much chance of us getting his opinion as there is of Robert France or Ian Barley divulging their black puding recipes!! I don’t believe that he needs to argue his case – his record as Master and the esteem that he is appraently held in by his employers and shipmates speak a lot louder than anything he couldsay himself. Like a previous responder to this blog I have also noted that he hthe ferry has criss crossed the Minch in some poor weathet all week. Well done.
Too late. I am no longer interested in what the captain has to say. But I WILL find out how many other publicly-owned ferries sailed in that weather.Then I’ll make my own judgement as to his competency.
As for the clowns who decided facebook was an appropriate place to diss the harbour master WAKE UP! It’s a public forum like any other.
Anna MacKay – Whereas I respect the your zeal in finding out how many ferries sailed on the night in question, I can’t see what that has to do with the Hebrides sailings ? Some ferries have more sheltered routes and various harbours are affected by different winds. So it is very difficult compare ferry routes
Also what qualifications do you have to make a judgement on the competency of the ferry Captain?
Do you know the characteristics of the “Hebrides” in heavy seas? How do these changes in various sea states, ie: – Wind with the tide – wind against the tide – tide direction and strength plus lots of other variables. Maybe you are suitably qualified to make that judgement ie a rank similar or above Captain.
According to the forecast on that particular evening the storm was not due till 3am, some 5 hours after he would have arrived in Stornway. While the weather was not pleasant when the ferry sailed, in my opinion, it was not particularly bad.
Since you believe you are suitably qualified to judge the Captain of the Hebrides i.e., a sea Captain with experience in the Minch, I look forward to reading your findings.
I put my request in writing to CalMac’s office at lunchtime. They have 28 days to respond, so I await their response in due course.
I would ask all those people that are concerned about crossing the Minch, in bad weather, from now onwards, phone the Harbour Master, and ask him before you leave your house, which could be anywhere? if he intends to close the Harbour to Shipping on that Day of your travel, the future of Stornoway to me looks grim indeed, if the Harbour is going to Shut Down, every time we get a Storm, i also would like to ask any other Mariner`s on here, if they have ever heard of a Harbour Master telling his Pier workers, and Shipping, that the Harbour has closed…unless it was due to Traffic, we need to look into this, as a matter of urgency
i have been at Sea since the 70`s, this is all new to me.
None of us want to be Stranded in Ullapool, so as a precaution, would it not be better to Phone him up, and ask him, what his intentions are for your Day of Travel?
Had the Harbour been open, the Ferry would have made it, i doubt if she would have sunk in the Minch, so leave the Ferry Master alone, he has done nothing wrong, not guilty of any Crime, under the Merchant Navy Shipping Act..
Anna MacKay, instead of trying to find out how many Ferries were running that Day [Daft Question] not relevent..why dont you find out how many Harbour`s were shut in Scotland, due to the weather? get real Madam, i think you will find none…what would happen if the Harbour Master in Shetland, closed the Pier, during a Storm, that Ferry could be forced to return to Aberdeen, think about that one….LOL
Ofcourse it couldn`t happen in Orkney or Shetland, only in Stornoway..
some Mother`s do have them..
I don’t think it’s daft. I think it’ll be indicative of what other masters thought of the conditions.
FYI That should be ‘madam’ with a small m. Lol!! ;–
“Easy as she goes thar…me hearties! me thinks we got a s*** stirrer in them thar works arrr! 28 day`s to fix it ? arrr we`ll be in the Canaries by that time, make her walk the plank without a blindfold Arrr!” lol
I’m a good swimmer. And stirring it is a native pastime on Lewis. Haha!
Hi, Mr Bioda, imagine any of these two clowns in charge of the Panama Canal, ove! ove ! Arnol LOL! it doesn’t bear thinking about, never mind allowing them Piloting through it, what a commotion that would be, imagine them telling the locks how much water should be in there. It`s not funny when you think about it as their stupid antics have proved how vulnerable they are now.
Atlanticfish – I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Only a s#it stirrer would ask such an irrelevant question as that, If she is to be believed. I don’t think anyone would be that stupid. As shonnie said a more relevant question is how many harbours were closed by the weather. The harbour master may have “Shot himself in the foot” because if it becomes common knowledge that Stornoway harbour closes with a bit of wind, it may discourage yacht owners coming to the “proposed” new yacht marina.
Anna MacKay – It’s good to know that you are a good swimmer – because you might need it when you want to visit Ullapool again LoL.
I`m sorry I did say “over and out” in a previous post, but I just had to come back because while writing my previous post about the Panama Canal it suddenly dawned on me why Mr Morris Macleod was wrong to criticise in the first place. Well trained competent individuals can still have faulty awareness, imperfect judgement regulations can prescribe training and competency standards for crews.
It is generally recognised that managing and navigating a ship upon a ocean requires a different set of skills and experience THAN piloting in confirmed waterways like the Minch where specialized knowledge in close quarters where ship handling and local conditions are required.
A f/g (foreign going) Captain/Master when entering or leaving a Port must first (24 hours in advance) request a Pilot who provides local navigation advice. This Pilot is then sent out either by Helicopter or usually by sea. These Pilots (just like Cal Mac Skippers) know these waters i.e. when to start a turn and how currents and high winds can affect his ship.
Mr f/g Master Morris Macleod in all his time at sea should know this and agree with me that he has never taken any ship into or out of any Port he has ever visited without a Pilot been sent to guide the ship in. Most Port States protect their interests by requiring the presence on board of a local COMPULSORY Pilot.
I hope this puts a end to all silly remarks about our ferry skippers whether they should sail or not, they are better Pilots in these waters than the Pilots.