CALMAC CANCELLATION IS HEAVY LOAD
A designer static caravan stranded on Oban’s south pier is racking up costs as it waits to be moved.
Tobermory Campsite owners Angus and Catriona Williams have been trying since February to get the Steven Brown McCoos-styled caravan to Mull, but says CalMac has repeatedly scuppered him.
Hopes were raised when it got booked on a Tiree sailing via Craignure for Wednesday May 10 but with just half an hour notice before sailing, it was bumped off the list to make room for essential cars.
“I understand what essential means, I’m an islander. It was frustrating on that occasion but fair enough. We got booked on for the Friday but then it was cancelled again, this time because of ‘crew hours’. It’s been stuck on the south pier ever since at a haulage cost of £1,000 a day,” said Mr Williams.
Highland Holidays haulier Chris McCready whose artic lorry had the 38ft x 12ft static loaded on its back ready to go, said he was so gutted for Mr Williams that his business would instead take the £3,000 “hit”.
On Sunday Mr McCready had to unload the caravan. “I couldn’t sustain leaving my lorry to wait any longer. It was losing me other work,” he said, adding:
“Once we get a sailing confirmed, I will hire another lorry to move it. I’m not using mine to take caravans over to islands anymore, not after this experience.”
Mr McCready, who was keen not to blame the helpful staff in the CalMac terminal, said he could not understand why some hauliers had been able to get big loads onboard sailings but not him.
With MV Isle of Mull about to be redeployed to serve Uist, Mr Williams is desperate to get the caravan moved before the smaller Loch Frisa and Coruisk vessels take over the route.
“It is imperative we get the caravan over here
before that happens. Even when we finally get it here, it will take about three or four weeks to get it up and running. At this rate it will be a deadduck for us financially this season. We’ve been running this campsite for 20 years, in the last few years it’s become our own livelihood.
“We’ve been trying to get the static over on a ferry since
February, it should have been here in time for Easter and it would’ve been fully booked. Because it’s a Steven Brown McCoos-themed caravan inside and out – it has a big following.
“We could’ve been renting it out for about £650 a week, so far we’ve lost a potential £6,500 through missed bookings because of CalMac. Basically, it’s a financial penalty I’m having to pay for being an islander with a business.
“I will be looking for compensation but I’ve got more chance of getting to the moon.”
Mr Williams said he was paying about £900 to CalMac to get the caravan over and had even had it modified, removing guttering and pipes to make it narrower for the ferry.
This week, a CalMac spokeswoman said the static would be going over this weekend on a smaller trailer.
“Due to the abnormal dimensions of this particular vehicle, it has taken some additional planning with the local vessel crews to ascertain how it can be transported to Mull. We are now confident that it will be able to make it to the island this Saturday,” she said.
Mr Williams is hopeful but not convinced.
“I don’t think it will get over on Saturday. I have no confidence in CalMac whatsoever. Let’s wait and see, but every day it’s stuck in Oban is losing me more money.”
Mull & Iona Ferry Committee has also taken up Mr William’s plight by writing to CalMac chief executive Robbie Drummond.