60 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 11,000 boxes from 16 Anglo Spanish and 7 Scottish vessels. The Anglo fleet have been fishing very well over the past few months, targeting high quality hake and ling. The Scottish trawlers continue to target squid at Rockall with boats landing weekly. The short finned squid, Loligo vulgaris migrates during the summer months from the coast of Portugal up the west coast of Scotland. Settling in depths of 20 – 120 metres to spawn, these massive congregations of animals are easy prey for the trawl skipper.
Shellfish landings have also been boosted recently by displaced North Sea vessels with 32 landings made for the period. The offshore crabbers are currently on the east coast for their annual refit and the local fleet continue to fish as weather permits.
Non-fishing was restricted to the cruise ships Discovery making her second call of the year and the Nautica making her maiden call with 650 American passengers onboard. The weather was kind for both visits with a total of 1450 passengers spending time shopping and sampling the local fare. Delighted to say the Ullapool offer received very positive feedback from both ships which is great news for future seasons.
Ferry Works
Despite the usual rumours and negative speculation in the press the pier extension works and gangway installation will be completed prior to the arrival of the Loch Seaforth in September. The caisson has been filled with local aggregate and the precast connecting beams installed to join new with old. The contractor is busy running service ducts prior to pouring the finished concrete deck over the next 3 weeks.
The new Passenger Access System arrived from Spain on a cargo vessel and is currently being unloaded. The 36m bridge section will be stored for 3 weeks until the remaining components arrive, prior to that the building connection and embarkation stairs will be installed adjacent to the terminal building shell.
The terminal building clearly won’t be ready for the arrival of the new ferry, the contractor is working hard to reduce the contract term but realistically a December completion seems likely. The steelwork is due to arrive on the 28th July along with the roof and internal stairs. It may be necessary during the construction of the roof to relocate the bus service and if this is the case further information will be disseminated nearer the time.
Tall Ships
The Wylde Swan and Statsraad Lehmkuhl are currently in Fredrikstad Norway having completed the first leg of the 2014 Tall Ship Races. The next leg will take the fleet to Bergen where the Wylde Swan will end their participation and head west for Stornoway then Ullapool. Ullapool Harbour has sponsored 11 UHS pupils and 2 chaperones to undertake the 5 day voyage as part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme. Their shipmates will be 19 students from the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway, what a ploy. Thereafter the Wylde Swan will undertake 3 trips to St Kilda, a 7 day west coast adventure and a 1 day trip for UHS second year pupils. There are still a few places available on the third St Kilda trip 17th – 19th August, please email info@ullapool-harbour.co.uk if interested in booking a place. A limited number of tickets for the centenary champagne reception on Statsraad Lehmkuhl 16th August are still available from the harbour office, see full page advert for details.
Free to a good home
The double glazed units from the terminal building (all shapes and sizes) have all been removed and stored on pallets at Mill Street. If anyone would like some for cold frames etc please contact the harbour office to arrange collection. info@ullapool-harbour.co.uk 01854 612724
For Sale
Large 4 wheeled, high sided Marshall tipping trailer previously used for refuse and general storage is now surplus to requirements and offered for sale. The trailer is currently stored and available for inspection at the Harbour Business Park, Morefield Industrial Estate. Offers to info@ullapool-harbour.co.uk