Oban Harbour developments - public meeting

[cpedw]

Regular readers with a long memory might remember that CMAL (the static operations branch of CalMac the ferry operator)proposed a Harbour Order for Oban Bay a couple of years ago. There was much unease amongst yotties, fishermen, trip boat operators and others that the ferries might take control of the bay with little regard for anyone else's use of it. A response was the establishment of the snappily-titled Oban Community Harbour Development Association (OCHDA) which has been investigating the possibility of a Community Harbour Trust for Oban instead.

OCHDA is holding a Public Meeting to report on progress of plans to run the bay as a Community Harbour Trust Port. Argyll & Bute Council's Harbour Board has recently agreed that council officers will work with OCHDA to investigate how a new Statutory Harbour Board could be run as a community venture.

Meeting details: 7pm, 4th February 2020, Argyllshire Gathering Halls, Breadalbane St, Oban PA34 5NZ.

Oban Times article

 

[Gwylan]

Well CALMAC owns the place and generally everybody else gets out of their way. Well almost everyone does. But they don't understand 5 blasts and just think that nice big boat is being friendly.

 

[E-mac]

Thanks for the info. A couple of years ago we opposed the Calmac proposal and submitted a letter backing a community trust.
Glad to see progress in this direction.

 

[cpedw]

Well CALMAC owns the place and generally everybody else gets out of their way. Well almost everyone does. But they don't understand 5 blasts and just think that nice big boat is being friendly.

Not quite; CMAL owns the Railway Pier and that's not about to change. I understand the plan is that CMAL will have authority over an area of sea adjacent to the Railway Pier. I hope more detail will be revealed at the meeting.

Agreed there has been a problem with determined "power gives way to sail regardless" sailors and that needs to be addressed as the place gets busier.

Derek

 

[Deleted member 36384]

....... there has been a problem with determined "power gives way to sail regardless" sailors and that needs to be addressed as the place gets busier.

Derek

I don't think the bay is big enough for sail to assert the normal rules for prevention of collision. I think it is sensible to allow the ferries priority over sail to manoeuvre within the bay.

 

[claymore]

I don't think the bay is big enough for sail to assert the normal rules for prevention of collision. I think it is sensible to allow the ferries priority over sail to manoeuvre within the bay.

With you on that one - we do have plenty of room to tuck in somewhere out of the way until the Isle of Mull or whichever one it is, passes. Having had crew injured by Calmac's inconsiderate use of the throttle and the resulting bow wave and wash - I just keep well out of their way nowadays. That reads as if I didn't always - well, I always did - just more so nowadays.

 

[cpedw]

The current Oban Harbour Code of Practice is reasonable but has no enforcement or (I think) legal authority .

 

[Daydream believer]

I would suggest that the code could be reasonably considered as guidance to navigators. As such, if an incident occurred, in which the code had been blatantly ignored, then the navigator ignoring such code, may be batting on a pretty sticky wicket. It would have to be proven that the colregs had taken absolute precedence in the incident, in spite of the advice of the code. That could be somewhat difficult, considering that it is not unusual for local regulations to take precedent- Or at least I assume that is the case.

 

[Minchsailor]

I've always considered that in the harbour and adjacent waters are covered by 'vessels constrained by draft' (or whatever it is). However, totally opposed to CMAL taking over management of the whole area. A community trust, or CIC, representing all users and those with an interest would probably be a far better solution.

 

[Gwylan]

Not quite; CMAL owns the Railway Pier and that's not about to change. I understand the plan is that CMAL will have authority over an area of sea adjacent to the Railway Pier. I hope more detail will be revealed at the meeting.

Agreed there has been a problem with determined "power gives way to sail regardless" sailors and that needs to be addressed as the place gets busier.

Derek

Probably should have put own in inverted commas.
Being the generally biggest boats regularly in the place that gives influence. Also they probably contribute significantly financially.
Also as a quasi politicsl organisation they will be able to exercise influence in wider political and structural circles. All this in the corridors of power and influence a long way from Oban.

 

[awol]

I believe the Railway Pier is counted as an asset by CMAL. Any attempt to attach a boat to it will certainly come to the attention of a "Dragon" lady who will demand consideration.

 

[cpedw]

Also as a quasi politicsl organisation they will be able to exercise influence in wider political and structural circles. All this in the corridors of power and influence a long way from Oban.

I'm not close to the action but the word on the street is that the Trust Port is viewed favourably in Edinburgh.

The defenestration of CMAL's representative in Oban has also been helpful. That's not the Dragon referred to by awol.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Being the generally biggest boats regularly in the place that gives influence. Also they probably contribute significantly financially.

Is the idea to hand control over to CMAL or Calmac? Does CMAL actually operate the piers in places like Oban or does it lease them to Calmac?

While I appreciate that Oban Bay can be busy, I'm not wholly convinced that a ferry which has come all the way from Colonsay or Coll can't afford to slow down to a reasonable speed for the last mile. Far too many yahoos driving these things, and far too much deviation from the published approaches to the west.

 

[pagoda]

The published speed limits apply to most of the Sound of Kerrera and the bay itself. They are not excessive. The acceleration / deceleration of ferries in the vicinity of Dunollie light and also south of the Kerrera ferry is a bit intimidating for sailing/leisure craft. If there was less bullish behaviour from Calmac helms at times it would be much appreciated.

 

[awol]

I have a fair amount of sympathy with the ferry drivers having seen the behaviour of some yotties and mobos. The ferries are big enough and give vhf warnings, even if you have to tune to 12. Blithely heading for the transit marina without glancing behind or round the sprayhood is likely to get a 5-hoot salute.
Compared to the ex-white van drivers of the Dunoon ferries, the guys sailing out of Oban are gentlemen (or ladies).