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TEN YEARS AGO Friday May 9, 2014 New hybrid ferry expected to set sail from Tarbert this month
A new hybrid ferry, which runs on electricity and diesel, should be operational on the Tarbert to Portavadie route by the end of the month.
MV Lochinvar was formally handed over to CalMac Ferries by CMAL and Ferguson’s Shipyard this week and will now undergo sea trials before going into service.
The vessel is one of only two passenger rollon roll-off ferries in the world to incorporate low-carbon hybrid diesel with lithium battery power.
A CalMac spokesman said: “She [MV Lochinvar] will now undertake sea trials and crew familiarisation exercises prior to entering service later this month.
“It is expected that from time to time, as part of these exercises, she will take the chance to operate on the route.
“She is not expected to take up the run permanently for at least two weeks until we are confident any teething issues have been ironed out.”
MV Lochinvar is expected to run on the existing timetable service and is larger than the current ferry on the route. It can accommodate 150 passengers, 23 cars and two heavy goods vehicles.
It will use a temporary berth at Tarbert Harbour until a 12-metre permanent extension is built onto the fish quay in the autumn. Tarbert Harbour Authority is currently working with engineer Mott MacDonald to design the extension. It will also look at ways to increase the power supply for charging the ferry’s batteries.
The cost of work to the fish quay is expected to be in the region of £835,000 which will be paid through grant funding and the authority’s own contribution.
Glassary youngsters get to grips with hockey
Youngsters from Glassary Primary School are getting to grips with hockey as they take part in Scottish Hockey’s Commonwealth Dribble.
Older pupils have been set the challenge of dribbling the distance across Trinidad and Tobago, while younger students will take on Kenya.
The challenge will coincide with projects in the classroom, where the children will learn about their chosen Commonwealth country and have their maths skills tested as they add up their combined distances. The pupils have been in training for the past two weeks with Active Schools co-ordinator Innes Paterson.
During their first 10-minute dribbling session, the school clocked up more than 5,000 metres.
TWENTY YEARS AGO Friday May 7, 2004 A short back and a pint!
Boxing, hairdressing and singing were some of the methods used to raise cash in Lochgilphead over the weekend.
The annual Anthony Nolan weekend raised almost £3,000 for the bone marrow trust.
The event is organised by Angela and Donnie
MacVicar and their large extended family.
The MacVicars started organising fundraising weekends in Lochgilphead almost 10 years ago after daughter Johanna was diagnosed with leukaemia.
Despite her illness, Johanna has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow register. She even met Robbie Williams backstage at a concert in Glasgow and convinced him to join the register!
A bone marrow donor could save the life of a person with leukaemia.
This year’s fundraising weekend consisted of the usual fun and games including a coffee morning in Lochgilphead Parish Church Hall, a raffle and haircuts in the pub.
FORTY YEARS AGO Friday May 11, 1984 Bridge saga to end
The saga of the bridge at Stronachullin looks set to end soon with the news that work on the bridge should begin again next week, so ending months of painful judders for motorists travelling between Lochgilphead and Tarbert.
The bridge, near Stronachullin Fish Farm a few miles south of Ardrishaig, had its road surface removed some months ago, as part of a major operation to improve bridges around Argyll.
However, while all other bridges were quickly resurfaced as the work was completed, the Stronachullin Bridge was left untouched and for many weeks motorists have had to deal with nasty bumps and a rough surface.
But a spokesman for the regional council’s roads department said on Wednesday that the problems which had led to this had been sorted out and work was due to begin again next week.
Jim Pattison, Strathclyde Regional Council divisional engineer, said the work was started at a time when bad weather was causing its own problems and since then the contractors had been tied up with another job.
However, he continued by saying the problems now appeared to have been ironed out and that work would go ahead soon, with completion following shortly after.
The work is being done to improve the waterproofing of the bridge deck, an operation which ensures easier maintenance and longer life of the bridge, and was part of a programme of carrying out such work on many bridges throughout the area.