27 arrivals for the period
Whitefish totalled 850 boxes from 3 Spanish long-liners; the Anglo Spanish fleet are slowly returning from their summer vacations and continue to fish hake and long along the shelf edge. The Scottish fleet has been absent for the past few weeks now with vessels undergoing annual refits.
Shellfish sector has also been quiet with the offshore crabbers the only ever presents.
Non-fishing saw a variety of vessels come and go. The privately owned luxury yacht Itasca lay at anchor for a few nights with various visitors coming and going by ships helicopter. The fishfarm vessel Harvest Anne called in for a consignment of Hydrogen Peroxide. The coaster Burhou discharged 850 tonnes of road salt for Highland Council and the last 2 cruise ships of the year Albatross and Hebridean Princess made scheduled calls.
Ferry Works The principal contractor RJ McLeod has completed the pier upgrade and caisson extension and the new pier extension was officially handed over on 25th September. To celebrate a final three month safety-free period on site, Site Agent John Macleod mad a financial contribution to the local Girl Guide and Brownies and Cub Scout associations.
Final commissioning and testing of the new Passenger Access System is now complete. On Thursday we welcomed the first ever passenger onto the new gangway. German tourist Chris Scheffelt got over his shock at the warm greeting he was afforded by a hi-vis jacket-clad group but we think he finally understood what all the fuss was about. The PAS is now fully operational and is in daily use, transferring travellers to and from the ship. The Terminal Building extension is progressing well with the roof currently being installed and we are hopeful that the windows will arrive next week. The building is scheduled for completion in early January although we will still push for a December completion if at all possible. The Ice Plant upgrade and general makeover will commence in the next week or so with a December completion.
Congratulations to Robert Hicks and the Loopallu team for another fantastic weekend, great atmosphere, amazing music, food and lubrication. Well done to all concerned and roll on 2015!