Another early start, up at 4:30 ready for a 6:00 shift over to #2 berth so that we can load through the bow, both Tiree and Coll are stern too. We set off on time at 6:45 after a bit of a fraught loading. There was a lot of heavy trucks and loading for the two ports knowing that there was cargo coming on at the first, Tiree, for Oban makes for a difficult stow. It was a good passage across to Tiree but there was still a worryingly large swell coming up from the South as we approached the island.
We dropped the starboard anchor off the pier and then dropped back to go starboard side alongside. Because of the conditions frequently encountered here we take extra heavy ropes from the shore to tie up with. We got in but the ship was still surging up and down from the swell coming into the bay. I was standby on the ramp, if there was any sign of the ship moving away then I was to whip it up to prevent it getting damaged. After a few vehicles one of the shore lines snapped, we replaced it but shortly after this the swell got too much to continue, up went the ramp and off we went leaving a few vehicles and a truck. We got alongside in Coll but it was clear when we had tied up that there was no way we could work the ramp so we let go and headed off back to Oban.
Tomorrow we are going to have another go, calling at Coll twice this time. They are keen to get some of the trucks off the island as it has been nearly a week since they managed to get goods ashore. We did get the fuel off to top up the power station on Tiree, apparently there wasn't that much in reserve so they'll be pleased about that. Forecast looks much better for the next few days so fingers crossed that we can make it in to Coll tomorrow.
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