Harbour News 30 Sept–20 Oct 2020

26 arrivals for the period

Ullapool Harbour Trust continues to operate during the Covid-19 pandemic; we are supporting vital transport links to the Western Isles and handling routine fishing and commercial traffic. Harbour services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we can be contacted by phone, email and VHF.  We are observing strict social distancing and hygiene measures.   

The Loch Seaforth has sailed to Liverpool for her annual refit.  The Isle of Lewis is taking up the passenger sailings and the Hebridean Isles is covering overnight freight deliveries. Passenger numbers are limited to 330 per sailing and advance booking is mandatory for all travellers.

Whitefish totalled 8,800 boxes from nine Scottish trawl and four Anglo-Spanish long-line landings. The Scottish lads continue to persevere at Rockall although it won’t be long before the weather beats them. The Anglo fleet has been largely absent this year delivering only an occasional landing of hake and ling as boats head south.

Shellfish activity continues to be very quiet.  There was a visit from a single prawn trawler, a couple of landings from scallop dredgers and the usual efforts of the local fleet.

Non-fishing was busy and varied.  Bulk carrier Ceg Orbit arrived from Ireland with 1200 tonnes of road salt, three SMIT civilian support vessels accompanied by 10 rigid inflatables participated in the naval exercise, fish farm support vessels Ocean Aquila, Hydro Pioneer, Migdale, Ossian and Aqua Lass were day-running.  The ETV Ievoli Black called in for fuel, the Calmac ferry Isle of Arran fresh from her annual refit in Aberdeen laid over for 60 hours before heading to Oban. The tug Serval (pictured) arrived from Denmark to tow the powerless anchored reefer Alma to Lithuania for main engine repairs. Serval left Ullapool on Wednesday of last week and is currently in the Baltic heading for Klaipeda.

Harbour Scrap Metal Service

In light of last week’s plea for help in the Ullapool News, the harbour will run a scrap metal collection service to raise funds for Romanian orphans. Local lady Effie Mackenzie fundraises annually for Gino’s Cantina but COVID restrictions have dealt a blow to her local fundraising effort. Gino’s Cantina provides hot meals for 130 children and they need your help.

To arrange collection, please contact the harbour – info@ullapool-harbour.co.uk  Phone: 07739 951 178

(No vehicles or domestic appliances)