Unfortunately, the Lighthouse is still not operational. We have ordered a new solar set up so we are hoping that it will be back up and running within the next few weeks. In the meantime, we are still asking vessels to please take extra care on the approach to Mallaig. The green buoy is still flashing to mark the edge of the channel, providing navigational guidance, and thankfully most vessels using the Harbour are familiar with the approach, but the warnings about the light not being operational are still in force at the moment.
The visiting fishing vessels have continued to land in Mallaig throughout April. We have some smaller visiting vessels using the harbour, as well as larger vessels landing occasionally. Looking at the landings for the financial year ended March 2025, the value of all species landed through Mallaig was just over £5.065million. This is the first time since I began working at the harbour in 2019 than landings have been valued above £5million. By far the majority of the value landed is in shellfish (£4.695 million), with the remainder in white fish and sprats. For the year, around £280k of white fish was landed, with £113k of this landed in February this year by visiting fishing vessels!
The solar panels have yet to be installed, but we are hoping that by the time you read this, they will have been, and that there will have been some sun to make them worthwhile! Loch Shell Engineering have poured the concrete for two of the pillars under Jary’s Wharf, and the contractors were back on site for the spring tides at the end of April to continue works, and hope to finish the last pillar at the end of May.
We’ve engaged an architect to draw up plans to subdivide Unit 15 on the Industrial Estate (formerly occupied by Andy Race). In the meantime, the contractors working on the Co-op building in Mallaig are using it for their base while they replace the compound at the rear of the shop.
The new pontoon fingers have been installed at the Marina. We managed to take a photograph of them just after installation, probably the only time that they will ever all be empty at one time! We’ve had a pretty slow start to the season, despite the good weather in the run up to Easter.
The disruption on the ferry service continues. The Loch Fyne came back in to service in Mallaig on Monday 28th April, and will be operating as a single vessel service. This was initially due to be until Monday 16th June, but latest information is that the Coruisk will not be operational from Mallaig before 5th July. Meanwhile, we are hopeful that sailings to Lochboisdale will resume on Thursday 15th May. The changing picture is a challenge, especially for our Tourism businesses, and if anyone would like to be involved in the newly established ‘Sound of Sleat Ferry User’s Group’, then please get in touch.
In more positive ferry news, the Transport Secretary, Fiona Hyslop, announced at a ‘Crisis Summit’ in Lochboisdale, that the funding for the procurement of a new vessel to replace the Lord of the Isles had been included in the Scottish Government’s budget for 2025/26. Mallaig Harbour Authority have been involved in the working group for this replacement ferry, and the business case is due to go before Transport Scotland in May 2025. The replacement vessel will have implications for the infrastructure in Mallaig, so we are currently undertaking some investigative works to determine the most appropriate way forward in providing new infrastructure. We have also resubmitted our business case to Transport Scotland for the overnight ferry berth with the hope that this will be approved and works can start in September.
The British Ports Association’s ‘Fishing Ports Group’ meeting took place in Grimsby on 9th and 10th April. Unfortunately, this was just before our Board Meeting on the 11th so I was unable to attend, but John MacPhee went to represent Mallaig Harbour. Despite some challenges with public transport (trains rather than ferries this time!) he enjoyed his visit, and was made very welcome by Martin and Danny from Grimsby Fish Market.
All the works being undertaken on the Harbour have given Rob Fairley some new subjects to draw, and his exhibition of people working around the Harbour over the years is currently running in Mallaig Heritage Centre, and will be until the end of the year. The cost of the infrastructure for this exhibition was one of the projects that we agreed to support when our Board met to discuss the applications for funding in April. We had applications totalling £11,300 for a budget of £5,000 so we had some tough decisions to make, and inevitably, some of the applicants would have been disappointed by the outcome. In addition to £1,000 to Mallaig Heritage Centre, we agreed to fund £500 for Mallaig and District Men’s Shed to purchase tools and equipment; £400 for Mallaig Pool and Leisure to buy equipment for swimming lessons; £900 for Mallaig High School pupils French Trip; £300 for a new shed at the Mackintosh Centre, and to continue our sponsorship of Mallaig FC with an award of £1,500. We do still have some funding available to be allocated throughout the year, so please get in touch if you have a project that you would like us to consider supporting.
Jacqueline McDonell
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