Corran Ferry

The Maid of Glencoul travelled for her annual refit by tug week commencing 1 April 2024.  Following some further stormy weather delays, she is now in dry-dock.  

Refit work began week commencing 8 April 2024 and has started well.  There is also positive progress with the steering system repair, therefore, the latest estimate for completion of her refit remains the end of May.  

Due to the stormy weather delays at the end of March/beginning of April, it is possible that her return to Ardgour could be early June, but every effort is being made to achieve her return as soon as possible, and we will continue to provide regular reports on the Maid of Glencoul’s progress over the coming weeks.

The MV Corran is operating as normal and the timetable details available here.

Real time service updates can also be found via the @CorranFerry.

Good Morning All,

I hope you are good this week.

Further to recent discussions regarding the above suggestion, please find below a summary of THC’s proposed temporary 40mph speed limit works on the A861.

Proposed speed limit reduction from 60mph to 40mph on the following sections:

1. Junction of A861/A830 to start of temporary 30mph speed limit at Achaphubuil; and
2. End of temporary 30mph speed limit at Treslaig to start of temporary 30mph speed limit at Ardgour.

The existing temporary 30mph speed limit from Achaphubuil to Treslaig is being maintained, as is the 30mph speed limit from Ardgour to Clovullin.

There is a new 20mph speed limit scheme currently being implemented through Ardgour. The existing temporary 30mph scheme will be maintained either side of the new 20mph section.

Please find attached a plan detailing this proposed extents of the new 20mph restriction, as well as an annotated map detailing the extents of the temporary 30 & 40mph speed limits.

If you require any further information or have any queries or comments regarding the information issued please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours Sincerely.

Gary Kennedy

Gary Kennedy

Senior Engineer

The Highland Council

Infrastructure, Environment & Economy

Project Design Unit

38 Harbour Road,  

Inverness.  IV1 1UF 

07788 387649

Gary.Kennedy@highland.gov.uk

Latest Time-Table delays and estimated dates for the main vessel From Highland Council

Update on the Corran Ferry – 23 June 2023

The Highland Council has confirmed a new timetable for the return of the main Corran Ferry vessel, the MV Corran. The MV Corran is currently booked onto the slipway at Ardmaleish Boatyard in July to prepare for the fitting of the propulsion unit, an integral part that of which is currently being manufactured in Germany.  

The key issue remains with the crown-wheel-gear. Being a lifetime part, it is not available off-the-shelf and is having to be individually manufactured. Unfortunately, due to circumstances outwith the Council’s control, the previous date for a return to service has had to be extended.  The Council is making all efforts to expedite the delivery of this part, but unfortunately there are capacity and supply chain challenges that are being experienced right across the maritime sector.   

When the part is delivered at the end of July, it will be fitted in early August and this will be followed by sea trials before the vessel returns home around the middle of August.  

Meanwhile, the smaller Maid of Glencoul continues to provide the service and is currently busy providing crossings seven days a week. The shuttle bus service has been retained to help manage demand, enabling more people to travel as foot passengers to address the reduced vehicle capacity of the Maid.

Chair of the Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “The ongoing situation has been very challenging for everyone which is why we have been focussing on finding solutions and have put in place as many mitigation measures as possible. We continue to work closely with the supplier based in Germany and have been assured that they are doing all that they can at their end, to ensure the manufacture of the crown wheel gear component is completed as a matter of urgency. Our focus remains on ensuring the MV Corran is back in service as soon as possible while we continue to support residents and local businesses as widely as possible.”

Chair of the Corran Ferry Steering Group, Cllr Sarah Fanet added: “This is disappointing news for the communities and businesses, but I know that the focus remains on bringing MV Corran back into service as soon as possible. This reinforces the importance of the foot passenger ferry service between Camasnagaul and Fort William, combined with the bus shuttle service, which will continue to operate and help alleviate the pressure on the Maid of Glencoul. Once again, I want to thank the dedicated crew who are doing all they can to provide the best service.’’

A warm highland welcome is extended to all visitors to the area. In terms of journey planning, please ensure that you plan sufficient time for your journey.  

ENDS

From Highland Council

Update June1 2023

Maid of Glencoul due back in operation at Corran Narrows

The Highland Council is pleased to announce that following the completion of repair work and successful sea trials, the Maid of Glencoul is expected to be back providing a ferry service across the Corran Narrows in Lochaber in the coming days.

Chair of the Environment and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “Now the sea trials have been completed and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have issued certification the ferry will be on its way back to Lochaber shortly. On arrival, the ramps need to be recommissioned and then she will be ready to resume a vehicle and passenger ferry service.” 

“I would like to thank all of our staff and interim service contractors for their work and also pay tribute to the communities who have worked with us patiently while the temporary arrangements have been in place.”

Work to repair the main vessel, the MV Corran continues. The first shipment of critical parts has arrived from the supplier Voith, based in Germany. The damage to the Crown Gear has meant that a new one must be recast. The Council is making all efforts to expedite the delivery of this part, but there are complex supply chain challenges and the MV Corran is not expected to be back in service until the end of June 2023 at the earliest.  

In the meantime, the Council has arranged for mitigation measures to be put in place to support the Maid of Glencoul service. This includes temporary road signage and speed limits, a clearway order on the adjacent A82, and marshalling area staff on the ground to manage traffic. A request is also being made for all cars to be removed from the access roads and ferry queues.  

The temporary foot passenger service from Ardgour to Fort William town pier will end, as will the temporary fast RIB for foot passengers at the Corran Narrows and the associated shuttle bus service that has been in place.

Cllr Ken Gowans added: “The Maid of Glencoul has less capacity for vehicles than the main vessel so we expect queues to form at peak travel times. Drivers will have assistance from the queue marshals and there is also the option to use the alternative road route around Loch Linnhe.” 

Chair of the Lochaber Committee, Cllr Kate Willis added: “While we seek consideration from the public with the mitigation measures, especially in terms of the temporary speed limit, I would like to emphasise that the peninsulas and surrounding area are very much open for business and we welcome visitors to the area as usual as we enter the summer season.”

Updates on services will be provided on the Corran Ferry facebook page, twitter feed and website. The ferry office telephone number is not manned at all times.

The traffic management arrangements on site will be reviewed on a regular basis in consultation with the local communities.

ENDS

From May 2023:

Dear Members and Community Council reps,

Maid of Glencoul

The Maid suffered a failure of the drive shaft and is currently in dry dock at Bute.  The parts that failed have been re-manufactured and delivery is expected tomorrow. Rebuild will take place over the course of the rest of this week, and it is hoped that this work, as well as other routine maintenance work (including replacement of the main windscreen) will be complete by 29 May 2023. Following sea trials and re-certification, it is planned for the Maid of Glencoul to be back in Service by 5 June 2023, possibly sooner.  

MV Corran

Critical parts are still awaited from the supplier Voith, based in Germany.  Whilst the first shipment will be with WARTSILA by the end of this week (27^th May), the damage to the Crown Gear has meant that a new one must be recast, and this is not expected until later in June. The Council is making all efforts to expedite the delivery of this part, but there are supply chain challenges due to high levels of demand. 

Once all the parts are in place in Glasgow, the rebuild will commence, but it is clear that due to the supply chain challenges the MV Corran will not be back in service until the end of June 2023 at the earliest.  In the meantime, the MV Corran will be towed to the dry dock on Bute, so that other maintenance activity can take place whilst the parts are awaited. 

A full and detailed briefing will be provided at the Steering Group meeting on Monday, with as much information circulated in advance as possible. 

We will ensure you are kept abreast of progress on both vessels if there is anything to report meantime. 

Best regards | Le dùrachdan

Kate

Kate Lackie

Chief Executive | Àrd-Oifigear

The Highland Council

01463 702041

07990 782197

From Highland Council – Corporate Communications: Good afternoon – For your information we have issued the social media messages below to advise people about the updated timetable for the Fort William – Ardgour foot passenger service.

https://www.facebook.com/highlandcouncil/posts/623903436443650

The timetable, which is valid from Monday until Wed 31^st May, is attached and the information on the Corran Ferry website and the Highland Council web homepagehas been updated

From Highland Council: For your information, here is the news release that has been issued following a decision made at full council today –https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/15293/committee_agrees_to_levelling_up_funding_bid_for_new_electric_ferry

We issued this one on Tuesday to provide details of the bus timetables and the extra service up the Loch –https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/15288/council_confirms_corran_ferry_shuttle_bus_timetables

The bus timetable is available here – Corran Ferry | Shuttle bus timetable (highland.gov.uk)

Regards

Sylvia Tarrant.

From Highland Council

Here is the news release we have issued this morning to confirm that the second foot passenger service has started up –https://www.highland.gov.uk/news/article/15254/foot_passenger_service_following_corran_ferry_route_begins

It will follow the usual Corran Ferry timetable.

The timetable for the service to and from Fort William Pier has been slightly tweaked due to input from the local community and will be as follows

From: Corran Ferry Steering Group Meeting 7th July 2022

Featuring a presentation and minutes from the meeting

as presented to members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee (02 Dec)

The purpose of the study is to provide a comprehensive statement of the socio-economic role of the Corran Ferry in meeting the needs of Residents, Businesses and Visitors / Tourists who use the ferry. It will also form part of the outline business case, that will support and justify both the internal and external case for capital and revenue investment in the service in the short/medium-term, whilst continuing to make the case for a fixed link in the long-term.

It should be noted that following on from additional feedback from the Corran Ferry Steering Group (as presented previously through LA Committee – 09 Aug 2021) Stantec have amended the Full report to capture local views regarding additional data-based changes in journey time not telling the full story.

The Community Council is represented on the Corran Ferry Steering Group. We have emphasised the importance of the ferry to our local community as a lifeline service and the concern to keep the current ferry service at the best operational level possible, moderate fares for local residents and to gather information on plans to replace/renew the service.

The current ferries, the MV Corran and the reserve vessel Maid of Glencoul are at the end of their service life and capacity for the very busy operations and need replacement. Option for replacement include:

• A two ferry replacement to provide 2 x 23-vehicle ferries to meet the future requirements providing a 46-vehicle capacity over the current MV Corran 28-vehicle capacity. (Current operations are 120% of planned capacity achieved by shuttling). This would form a part of a project with Transport for Scotland and CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets) Small vessel replacement bid (9 vessel replacements). (Currently preferred )
• Replace the ferry with a bridge
• An unlikely option given the recognition of the ferry as a lifeline service is removal of the service and to rely on the around loch road

The ferry replacement will likely take 4-5 years before the first of the 9 ferries are available. There are three important points arising from this:

1. The current ferry service must be maintained in the meantime. (We have been told that there has been budget allocated for the current maintenance requirements and a plan exists to maintain the current service whilst replacements are built).
   
2. We want to be early in the queue of the 9 ferries being built, otherwise it could be 7 years or more before a replacement ferry service is in place. We need to ensure both councillors and government are fully aware of the importance of the crossing. (Currently our Local MSP is also the finance secretary!)
   
3. A Socio Economic Study of the Corran Narrows is being commissioned and should include as wide a local input as possible. If you get the opportunity to contribute, please do. This study may shape decisions about the ferry service

It is important therefore to ensure the community voice is heard. You can of course make representations to Highland Councillors or your MSP to make your views on the Ferry known. You can also submit your views to the Sunart Community Council and we will make these known during the ferry steering group meetings. You can contact the SCC using our contact form at: https://sunartcommunitycouncil.co.uk/sunart-community-council-contact