Skye Bridge News

Harris Pye begins work today on refurbishing the historic dock gates at Kishorn Port, last opened nearly 25 years ago. This will be the first step in making them, and the Kishorn dry-dock, operational once more. The contract value is £340,000 and the work will be undertaken in a six week period. The hollow concrete gates were last opened nearly 25 years ago when the Skye Bridge caissons were constructed there in 1993. The dock was also where the Ninian Central production platform, one of the largest concrete structures ever to have moved across the face of the earth, was constructed in the late 1970s. “We are delighted to have won this contract, and to be working on these historic gates,” explains Chris David, Harris Pye’s Chief Technical Officer.

The idea of a ferry going over the sea to Skye is not a new one, although with the Skye bridge opening a few years ago, it is not an adventure many people undertake these days. A small car ferry operates in the south of the island, and a large car ferry takes people over from Uig in the north west corner of Skye to the Outer Hebridian islands of Lewis and Barra. There had however, long been talk of a possible passenger service linking the North of Skye to the Scottish mainland at Gairloch. A feasibility study was carried out by the local council, after which some local businessmen pulled together to form a new company in 2003 called West Highland Seaways Ltd., trading as 6° West.

budget. The vessel was built by Sandy Morrison Engineering in Uig, Isle of Skye. Morrison reported “the Spitit of Skye had finished its trials with flying colous. The performance of the vessel was better than hoped for by a large margin. Predictions were in the region of 28 knots. recorded. of other types we have used”. undertake these days. northwest Highlands and Islands. unviable. consuming and hair-raising journey by road. Skye to the Scottish mainland at Gairloch. Seaways Ltd., trading as 6o West. Gairloch in the Isle of Skye. required an average speed of 18 knots.