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Plague of ferry breakdowns since Sabbath sailings                       24/07/14

 

Sir,

 

It was reported yesterday that there is to be a further delay in the completion of CalMac's new vessel for the Stornoway to Ullapool crossing and that the new ferry will not now be in service until October at the earliest.

 

In light of this news your readers may be interested in a letter which was sent to the Chief Executive of CalMac by our Presbytery in April, the text of which is presented below. We believe that CalMac's recent difficulties must be traced back to the way in which they have insisted upon introducing seven-day sailings – often despite the wishes of local people and in clear breach of God's command to keep the Sabbath day holy.

 

 

 

At our meeting on 25th February the matter of the frequent interruptions to ferry services covering the Western Isles of late was noted and it was agreed that the Presbytery would address their concerns to you.

 

It must be acknowledged that weather conditions during recent months have not been conducive to maintaining the timetabled services – a factor which is clearly beyond all human agency.

 

Our great concern however has been the effect which Sabbath ferry sailings, initiated despite the strong, biblical objections of island people, would ultimately have on your company’s local operations. Of even greater importance is the displeasure of the Lord Himself at the flagrant disregard demonstrated by your company in beginning and continuing those services.

 

We accept that there are those who will ridicule the resistance of the church to Sabbath ferry operations – and perhaps vehemently oppose those who voice their objections. However it is the duty and responsibility of the church to resist activities which violate God’s holy Law – in this instance the Fourth Commandment which tells us to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” History records incidents where God has demonstrated His displeasure with those who defy Him. As the Bible says, “God is not mocked”.

 

It is recognised of course that machinery breakdowns can and do happen, often without warning. Thankfully God in His providential mercy has protected the vessels so affected and the passengers travelling in them from extreme danger and we are also indebted to the professionalism and skill of the officers and crews manning those vessels. However the Presbytery notes that there has been a series of mechanical breakdowns and failures recently resulting in a disruption of services to a degree unknown previously.

 

The Presbytery draws attention to the fact that earlier, less technically-advanced vessels, operating on very similar runs, knew far fewer delays arising from such breakdowns. Indeed many of the vessels so engaged were considered to be the hardest-run merchant vessels operating, with machinery constantly starting and stopping during many manoeuvres in the course of a day. We are bound to point out that the most obvious operating difference was, in terms of operations for the Western Isles, that none of these vessels ran on the Sabbath Day.

 

As we now look forward to a new vessel, aptly named ‘Loch Seaforth’, designed and equipped for service in the Western Isles, we most respectfully, earnestly and prayerfully urge you that, with an expected increase in daily runs, your company observe “a day of rest” on the Sabbath Day, and that apart from essential duties, hard-driven personnel be given that necessary time of recuperation and there be downtime for the machinery.

 

We further note that these islands have produced an abundance of naval personnel and merchant seamen of all ranks, many of whom are sceptical at the proposed level of operations intended for this new vessel. It is our earnest hope, in the phrase uttered at the launch of every new vessel, that God will “bless all who sail in her”.

 

Yours faithfully,

David Blunt (Rev.)

(Clerk to Free Presbytery of the Outer Hebrides,

Free Church of Scotland (Continuing))

 

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