Western Ferries

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Western Ferries

Type	Private
Founded	1968
Headquarters	Dunoon, Scotland, UK
Key people	Gordon Ross (Managing Director)
Website	Western-ferries.co.uk

Western Ferries is a private ferry company with its headquarters in Dunoon, Scotland. It currently operates on the River Clyde running a year-round, high-frequency service between Hunters Quay and Gourock in Inverclyde.

History

MV Sound of Sanda

In the mid 1960s the islands on the west coast of Scotland were served by two kinds of vessel; mail ferries operated by David MacBrayne Ltd and "puffers" - small bulk cargo vessels capable of landing at simple piers or on the beach to discharge coal, lime etc. MacBrayne's also operated a number of cargo vessels out of Glasgow. None of these vessels was equipped to deal with road transport. Three car ferries owned by MacBrayne's were all side-loading and not suited to carrying the sharply increasing growth in tourist traffic or commercial vehicles.

In 1966 three people engaged in contracting work on the west coast decided to set up the Eileann Sea Service. With the help of an HIDB loan a landing craft type vessel, Isle of Gigha, was constructed and started operation in the middle of the seaman's strike. But in November the ship capsized and this put the company in financial difficulty. If anything further were to happen, more money and technical back-up were needed.

A group of Scottish businessmen having special interest in shipping and haulage matters, many of whom also had local interest in Islay and Jura, subscribed £100,000 capital and Western Ferries was set up.

Islay service

The Sound of Islay was ordered from Ferguson Brothers of Port Glasgow. She was designed to carry 20 cars or a combination of cars and commercial vehicles. She was launched amid a storm of derision. Trading began on 7 April 1968 between Kennacraig, West Loch Tarbert, and Islay.

The service provided a new roll-on/roll-off facility, operated twice as frequently as the existing boat to Islay, and offered lower rates without the benefit of subsidy. Unlike its competitor, it operated seven days a week, at night if required, and was punctual. It was immediately successful not only in taking the traffic which had formerly used mail or cargo services but also in converting much of the bulk trade which had formerly travelled in "puffers" to using trailers, thus saving on time, handling, breakage, pilferage and port dues. Lower rates led to a general increase in trade so that a larger and faster vessel was required.

The Sound of Jura had to be ordered from Norway. She came into operation in 1969 with three sailings a day. The capital of the company was increased to £250,000. Western Ferries had already formed a very close working relationship with a local haulier. He opened depots near both ferry terminals so that trailers could be moved on and off the vessels quickly without drivers and tractors units having to cross with them. He provided a parcel service as well as bulk service, and with dedication, grass roots expertise and low rates he built a thriving business.

At the beginning of 1969 the Port Askaig (Islay) – Feolin (Jura) service began - a high frequency service across a short stretch of water with a landing craft type vessel (the Isle of Gigha now modified and renamed Sound of Gigha, capable of carrying the largest commercial vehicle permitted on the road, or six cars). This effectively joined Islay and Jura and increased the traffic to the mainland. Jura was now served by three through sailings a day instead of three per week and both islands could now enjoy things which had hitherto been luxuries, like fresh fruit.

In 1970, the Sound of Islay commenced the Campbeltown (Kintyre) – Red Bay (Northern Ireland) service and was successful with the initial help of a cement strike in Ireland and a dock strike in England. Attempts to keep up a winter service, primarily with timber, were unsuccessful. The ship continued to operate a summer service until 1973 and spent the winter on charter work all up and down the West Coast carrying every conceivable kind of cargo provided it was legal. She acted as relief vessel to Islay when the Sound of Jura was going to drydock.

Clyde service

Hunters Quay terminal

In June 1973, Western Ferries opened a new route across the Clyde between McInroy’s Point (Gourock) and Hunters Quay (Dunoon) using two modified Swedish vessels Sound of Scarba and Sound of Shuna. These had bow and stern ramps, allowing roll-on/roll-off operation.^[1] Traffic developed rapidly and in August 1974, the former Isle of Wight ferry, MV Lymington joined the service as Sound of Sanda. This crossing was much shorter than the parallel Caledonian MacBrayne route. Although CalMac's vessels were considerably faster, their longer route meant that both operators took around 20 minutes to make the crossing.^[2] The simpler ro-ro service was regular, frequent and ran from 7am until 10pm. Their rates matched the recently reduced rates of CalMac.^{[citation needed]} Traffic kept both services very active.^{[citation needed]} A further vessel Sound of Sleat, a former Dutch river ferry was added in 1988. Two further ferries were purchased from Dutch owners, in 1995 and 1996. Both Sound of Scalpay and the second Sound of Sanda replaced older vessels.^[1]

In 2001, Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow delivered the second Sound of Scarba, the company’s first new ferry for the service. The old vessel was sold after a few years of mooring in the Holy Loch. A new Sound of Shuna followed in October 2003.^[1]

Between late 2006 and September 2007 facilities at both ports were restructured. The car marshalling areas were enlarging and a second linkspan was installed at both Hunters Quay and McInroys Point.

All four ferries operate during peak periods, providing a 15 minute service. At other times, three crossings per hour are provided whilst evenings and quieter times see a vessel depart every 30 minutes.^{[citation needed]}

The company employs 57 staff including six directors of which 50 live in the Dunoon area.^[3]

Community involvement

The Company takes its place in the community very seriously and re-invests its financial resources by employing a local workforce and through local purchasing. Funds are made available for the sponsorship of local groups, individuals, sports organisations and charities.^[4] Western Ferries sponsor local sporting events including the Cowal Highland Gathering^[5] and the annual Western Ferries Pro-Am golf tournament.^{[citation needed]}

The company provides a 24-hour call-out service for the Scottish Ambulance Service, for ambulances carrying emergency cases to hospitals in Greenock, Paisley and Glasgow

Current fleet

The company runs a reliable fleet of four purpose-built vessels.

Footnotes

External links

• Western Ferries Official website

v • d • e Current Ferry Operators of Scotland International Norfolkline · P&O · Stena Line Domestic Argyll & Bute Ferries · Caledonian MacBrayne · Northlink Ferries · Orkney Ferries · Pentland Ferries · Western Ferries See Also: Transport Scotland