Arnish Lighthouse

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The Fabrication Yard at Arnish is non-operational at present, and no news has been forthcoming about its future. This post is about the Hebridean Seaweed company, which has been set up in a corner of the industrial compound that is the Arnish Yard.

Hebridean Seaweed processes locally harvested seaweed (available in large quantities from the shoreline) into a substitute for the much-maligned trans-fatty acids found in many of our foodstuffs.

The company is now working 24 hours a day, 6 days a week - except for Sundays, out of respect for the Sabbath observance in the island.

I'm not quite sure, but I would imagine that there is plenty of space available for other small businesses like that. It is a success story, and I am looking forward to hearing of many more. ]]>

<![CDATA[ On 6 January 1957, the Fisheries Protection cruiser Vaila ran aground on Eilean Iubhard, just south of Lemreway in South Lochs at 5.30 am. As the vessel became stuck fast on the rocks, the captain ordered to abandon ship. Three lifeboats were launched, of which two got away safely. The third got fouled and turned over, and several crew ended up in the water. Although the captain was saved, five crew drowned that day. Survivors were brought ashore in Stornoway

The Vaila started life as the Royal Navy Minesweeper HMS Acacia, built at a yard in Ardrossan in 1940. She took part in the Normandy landings off Sword Beach. In 1948, she became the Vaila.

Image: Clydesite.co.uk, taken by John Bell.

Poignantly, when the news came through to Stornoway that the Vaila had sunk, at 8 am that morning, the authorities were not aware that 5 crew had drowned in the waters of Loch Shell. They thought all would be safe, as they were in fairly calm waters. Lifeboat was proceeding to the scene.

Source: National Archive for Scotland through Google ]]>

<![CDATA[ Read a report that an earthquake, measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale, shook Shetland early on Sunday, with Unst being most affected. Tables rocked back and forth, and the worst rattle someone ever experienced.

Were any of the Unst bloggers wakened by this event? Further info from the British Geological Survey website. ]]>

<![CDATA[ Lewis Wind Power LWP has reduced the proposed size of its development in north Lewis from 234 to 181 turbines. As a result of this revision, a new round of consultations is currently in progress.

An environmental statement on this revised proposal can be viewed in the Council Buildings for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on Sandwick Road in Stornoway; Stornoway Library in Cromwell Street, Shawbost Old School Library, Ness Development Centre and Tigh Ceilidh in Barvas.

Objections can be submitted until 29 January 2007, that is within 3 weeks from the date of this post, to the following address:

The Scottish Executive
Engergy Consents Unit
2nd Floor
Meridian Court
5 Cadogan Street
Glasgow G2 6AT

The email address: energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk. ]]>

<![CDATA[ The New Year Fireworks Display took place on Saturday, December 30th. A video compilation can be viewed here ]]>

<![CDATA[ Today saw the 88th anniversary of the Iolaire Disaster, when 205 men drowned at the Beasts of Holm, 2 miles south of Stornoway on return from World War I.

I have blogged about this subject during 2006, and would just like to link to that entry

This entry is in memory of those lost on that New Year's morning.

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