Exclusive: Tory leader Goldie in plea to save the troubled Waverley

Jul 2 2009 Frank Hurley

Waverley

A CAMPAIGN to save the Waverley paddle steamer is building up a head of steam in the Scottish Government.

West of Scotland MSP Annabel Goldie has asked Transport Minister Stewart Stevenson to intervene and speed up completion of repairs at Largs Pier.

Waverley cannot dock at Largs because the pier won't be open until August costing Waverley operators s200,000 in lost passengers fares.

But the paddle steamer suffered a hammer-blow to its continued viability when it crunched into Dunoon Pier last Friday - injuring 12 passengers and wrecking female toilets on board.

The vessel is undergoing urgent repairs at Greenock and operators hope she will back in business tomorrow.

Sailings were cancelled over the weekend and on Tuesday and Wednesday. The combined effects of the Largs and Dunoon issues puts the Waverley future in serious trouble.

The charity operating the steamer earlier this year had to make a public appeal after losses of s600,000 due to spiralling fuel costs and bad weather.

Ms Goldie, Tory group leader at Holyrood, said: "I know the Waverley's passengers, many from Largs and wider North Ayrshire, are very keen to get aboard and enjoy the journey and they too wish the pier finished quickly, so that they are able to do just that. In this year of Homecoming of all years, we want Waverley to play her full role."

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd, the Largs Pier owners who ordered the s6million repairs, said there was no sign of the work being completed sooner than August.