This month started with a morning at Mallaig High School undertaking mock interviews with some of the senior pupils. I was amazed by the confidence of the pupils and the range of careers that they are hoping to pursue! The event was organised by Developing Young Workforce, which is part of the newly expanded West Highland Chamber of Commerce.
We had a visiting fishing vessel, the Venture on 24th February. As you can see from the picture, it’s the largest fishing vessel we have seen in a few years, and was landing Monkfish. We’ve also had a larger vessel, the Aqua Transporter, loading smolts from the Harbour over the last month or so.
By the time you are reading this, the demolition of the old Denholms Ice Plant will be underway. The contractors arrived on Monday 4th March to set up, and the actual demolition will start on Wednesday 6th, and is expected to take three weeks. The site will be fenced off throughout the process, but we will take lots of photos to document the demolition! While it will be sad to see the building disappear, it will give us the opportunity to look at redeveloping the area in the future. We are hopeful that there will be a few visible signs of progress around the Harbour by the end of March, including the solar panels on the feed shed.
We have also had contractors up looking at the piling beneath ‘Jary’s Wharf’ – the area where Milligan Transport currently load, and where the fish boxes are stored. We hope to undertake strengthening of three of the piles during the spring tides at the end of March and April, with more work to be undertaken after the summer. This won’t be visible, but it is important for us in maintaining the structural integrity of the pier!
On Thursday 7th March, we are hosting the first meeting to establish a Ferry User’s Group. This has become very pertinent with the publication of the information on disruptions to the Summer timetable between Mallaig and Armadale and Mallaig and Lochboisdale. From 28th March to 11th April, the MV Loch Bhrusda will be operating a single vessel service. From 12th April to 15th May, the MV Loch Fyne will be operating a single vessel service, and from 16th May until the MV Isle of Mull comes back on service, the Loch Bhrusda and Loch Fyne will operate on the route. We expect that there will be a service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale from 9th April until 22nd April, then the service will operate to Oban from 23rd April to 14th May. The Lord of the Isles is due back on service between Mallaig and Lochboisdale from 15th May. If anyone is interested in being part of the Ferry User’s Group, then please get in touch, and I can make sure that you are kept updated.
The deadline for expressions of interest in Andy Race’s building has now passed, so we have a clearer idea of how the space might be used. It’s likely that we will be able to provide space for three businesses to operate from the building. In the meantime, the Harbour Staff have done a great job of clearing around the outside (and a bit of the inside), ready for development.
We have had another visit from Border Force to the Harbour recently. Although Mallaig Harbour Authority does not have a statutory need to publish a Modern Slavery Statement, we have decided that we should have a formal policy. This was approved by our Board at the February meeting, and will be made publicly available around the Harbour and online.
Scottish Seafarms have now installed a defibrillator, which is available for public use, on the exterior of their building on the Harbour. As a result, we have moved our defibrillator from the inside of the Harbour Building round to the exterior of the Marina building (at the top of the pontoon). This will mean that there is easier access for any incidents that might occur either on the pontoon or on East Bay.
Lastly, another 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.
Jacqueline McDonell
