TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO Saturday May 9, 1998

Ferry bosses at Caledonian MacBrayne are asked to increase capacity on the Mallaig – Armadale service after North MP David Stewart, local councillors and business leaders called on the company to introduce a larger vessel.

They feared its decision to swap the existing ferry Pioneer with a smaller boat could have a major impact on business and tourism in the area.

Last week David Stewart, the MP for Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber, wrote to CalMac to express his concern about their decision to redeploy the Pioneer from the route and substitute it with a smaller vessel, because of technical

problems within the CalMac fleet.

Locals fear the move could damage business and tourism prospects for the area and have urged CalMac to introduce a vessel capable of carrying more vehicles.

CalMac commercial director, Ken Duerden has apologised for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.

Responding to Mr Stewart he said: “Caledonian MacBrayne are very aware of the implications for the community served and I can assure you that the decisions taken for redeployment of vessels were not taken lightly.”

Mr Duerden said CalMac had been forced to redeploy the Pioneer because of a shortage of available vessels, following the breakdown of the Isle of Lewis. This, he said, had forced CalMac to redeploy the Isle of Mull to Stornoway, and move the Pioneer to Oban to provide the service to Mull.

He said: “We’re also currently operating with

one major vessel less than usual until the completion of the new Clansman, currently under construction and not scheduled for delivery until mid June.”

zTwenty five years on, the least you can say about CalMac is that they are consistent.