Fort William Marina welcomed the expedition class ship MS Silver Endeavour to Fort William on Sunday – despite horrendous weather the previous day.
The team were on tenterhooks to see if she would actually come up to Fort William and were reassured to see the ship in lower Loch Linnhe waiting for the advisory pilot (Rory Hamilton from West Coast Pilotage) to come on board from Port Appin early in the morning to help guide the Captain Tuomo Leskinen through the Corran Narrows.
The ship is around two years old and has all the latest technology to ensure she is as safe as possible.
She was kept in position by modern techniques, which enabled the ship to hold a position closer to shore and she didn’t move an inch despite the significant gusts coming up the loch.
The crew were very careful to not affect the prawn keeps that local fisherman Fergie MacLean stores his langoustine in before they get sold to Iain Stewart Fishmongers or sent off to restaurants in France.
Passengers were welcomed by local piper Fraser Lindsay and tours arranged for the guests included walks along Glen Nevis, coaches up to Fort Augustus, a cruise on Loch Ness and walks around Glenfinnan Viaduct, while others went on their own walks round Cow Hill and around the town.
The captain was also pleased to go on shore to purchase a bottle of 1994 whisky for his son’s 30th birthday present before he kindly welcomed visitors on to the bridge for the Plaque Exchange – a ceremony carried out when a ship first comes to a port to commemorate the occasion.
This was carried out by Councillor Liz Saggers, who presented Captain Leskinen with a slate plaque from the Highland Council. He reciprocated by presenting Councillor Saggers with a silver plaque that will be put pride of place in the council offices in the Charles Kennedy Building.
Sarah Kennedy, company secretary at the Shoreline Community Interest Company, also presented the captain with some gifts – Coire Leis whisky from Ben Nevis Distillery, a jar of her bees’ honey, a candle made from her bees’ wax, a handwritten card welcoming the ship and also a pack of shortbread donated by Nevis Bakery, which he was rather pleased to receive.
Eight-year-old Craig Kennedy was also on board as part of the welcoming committee. He is very keen on cruise ships and had made a lego replica of Silver Endeavour, which he presented to the captain with a lovely hand-drawn card as a reminder of his visit to Fort William.
A marina spokesperson said: "A huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the day such a success despite the torrential downpours and freezing weather, in particular James Kennedy, Emma Chisholm, Sarah-Jane Chisholm and Alisha Lappin."
This ship visit was the third of 17 cruise ships scheduled to come to Fort William this year.
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