Mallaig Harbour Authority have recently purchased Andy Race’s Building, and are intending to create processing space within the building. At the moment, our intention is to split the building into two units, provisionally along the line in the plan below. There is also upstairs space, which could be leased along with the downstairs units, or potentially separately.
Before we start the renovations, we are looking for expressions of interest from anyone who would be interested in renting space. The building is zoned for food processing, and therefore businesses operating in this sector will take priority.
If you would be interested in renting all or part of this processing space please contact Jacqueline either by phone 01687 462154 or email Jacqueline@mallaigharbourauthority.com for more information and to arrange a viewing. Closing date for expressions of interest will be Friday 28th February 2025 at 5pm.
Expressions of interest should set out what size of space you would be looking for, any requirements associated with this space (e.g. three phase electricity / freezer space / welfare facilities required etc.), as well as what the space will be used for; what employment will be associated with the use of the building and whether the business is seasonal or year round. They should be accompanied by a business plan which demonstrates that the business will generate sufficient revenue to meet costs associated with the use of the building. It would also be useful to understand any permissions that will be required to operate your business and any constraints associated with these.
We anticipate several expressions of interest, so the allocation will be a competitive process.
As I am writing this, the Sprat pump is due to be dismantled for another year. Landings of Sprats continued into the last week of January, although again the quality was mixed. Looking at the landings for the last calendar year, the trend is still improving after 2020 and 2021 which were blighted by covid and Brexit, and the value of fish landed in 2024 was actually slightly up on 2018. Let’s hope that the trend continues!
John MacPhie is settling in well as Deputy Harbour Master, and has already proved his worth by sourcing a second-hand Yokohama fender to replace one damaged during storm Eowyn on 24th January, and getting it delivered and installed the same week! John accompanied myself, and Board Members David MacDonald and Peter Hillier to the Parliamentary Reception hosted by the British Ports Association and the UK Chamber of Shipping at Holyrood on 14th January. This was a great opportunity to meet others in the industry, and hear about the opportunities and challenges. It also gave John the opportunity for a tour round the chamber and to try out the First Minister’s chair for size!
Our Harbour Master, Pimmy, turned 75 this month so we had the customary cake, and the photo below shows John presenting Pimmy with the cake. Audrey was able to look back and find photos from Pimmy’s 60th, 65th and 70th birthday, so we shared these on social media, which resulted in lots of good wishes being sent for Pimmy.
We have managed to make progress with some of our smaller projects this month. We have signed a contract for the installation of solar panels on the feed shed. These will primarily feed electricity around the Harbour, but will include some battery storage so that we can manage demand. We also received the Marine Licence for the extension to the pontoons, so this work will take place in March. We met with the contractor who will demolish the Ice Plant this month, and they are aiming to start work at the end of February. The works will take a minimum of three weeks, and there will be some disruption around the area, as they will need space to work and space to laydown the materials from the building etc.
Some of you may be aware that we have been in discussion to buy Unit 15, which Andy Race has operated for many years as a fish processing factory. Andy has retired and was unable to sell on the business, but I’m pleased to say that Mallaig Harbour Authority has now bought the building. We intend to renovate the building, making it a bit more energy efficient, and potentially to sub-divide it so that more than one business can operate from the building. It’s a big space, and we would like to see local businesses benefitting from it, so you will see on a separate post, we are inviting expressions of interest from anyone who would like to be considered as a potential tenant for the space. Realistically, it will take us several months to get the works done, so we are probably looking at space being available from September of this year, but any expressions of interest received will help inform what we do with the building.
The Loch Nevis has now returned to service, and we are awaiting the publication of the summer timetables for the Mallaig routes. The Mallaig Armadale route in particular is causing some consternation as it is likely that we will start the summer timetable in March with a single vessel, as the Coruisk will be required elsewhere. There was a lot of discussion last year about the timetable when the Coruisk is not in service in Mallaig, and the fact that the Loch Fyne was not timetabled to sail until mid-morning. It looks like a similar timetable is going to be published for this summer season, which will make commuting between Mallaig and Skye impossible. I have mentioned before the suggestion of a Ferry Users Group locally, and we have been in discussion with the Chamber of Commerce about the establishment of such a group. The Chamber of Commerce have widened their reach to include Skye and Lochalsh, Wester Ross and North Argyll, and have rebranded as West Highland Chamber of Commerce, so it makes sense to involve them in any such group, as they represent the interests of businesses at either end of the Skye and Small Isles routes. As soon as we have a date for a meeting, I will publicise it on our Facebook page.
Those of you who are observant will have noticed a new vessel in the Harbour this month. The Terschelling has been moored up at Airor for a number of years, before being purchased by Jarren and Johanna, who run The Polarship GMBH https://thepolarship.com/. They are taking Terschelling to Troon to dry dock, and, when work is completed, it will be sailed to Greenland to run Artic Expeditions. Terschelling was built in the Netherlands in 1963, originally to serve as a buoy layer and lightship tender for the Dutch Coastguard. It is being renovated to provide six en-suite cabins and a spacious saloon for guests.
Lastly, a wee reminder that we have formalised the process for allocating funds to community groups and projects. The first deadline for applying for funds is 14th March, to be decided at our meeting on 11th April, and you can find all the details on our Facebook page.
Recent Comments