Captain Cal Mac sets sail
Ferry superfan Calum MacKinnon is all on board with his nickname Cal Mac - and rightly so!
The 11-year-old from Barra knows the ins and outs of all CalMac’s fleet from each vessels’ specs, to build dates, routes and timetables.
Past to present, Cal Mac’s knowledge of CalMac’s history is just genius and when it comes to any disruptions and changes, he is ever up-to-date.
The Castlebay Primary pupil is also a whizz weather watcher, able to predict when sailings from Barra might be delayed or called off.
He even wears a CalMac hi-vis to school and, when the bell rings at the end of lessons, the youngster hops on his bike and makes haste down to the pier where he ’helps out’ at the ticket office.
Cal Mac is a familiar face on lighter evenings and weekends, down at the island’s port watching the Barra ferry come and go.
A CalMac hard hat, branded cutlery and mugs emblazoned with the Passengers First, Bravery and Safety motto, are among his prize collection of all things CalMac and he saves up his pocket money to buy models of the West Coast’s ferries. He has just three more to collect to own the entire fleet that he ’berths’ in his bedroom - along with two RNLI lifeboats and steamship Waverley.
Last week he was in Oban on a school trip to visit SAMS at Dunstaffnage and Oban High School for a coastal erosion awareness event, showcasing a project that he and fellow pupils have been working on about the effects on their island and what they have been doing to try and look after their remote environment.
When The Oban Times heard Cal Mac was in town, we asked ferry operator CalMac if we could arrange a surprise treat for one of their biggest fans and they were happy to help.
Young Cal Mac was invited to go up to the bridge of MV Isle of Mull, his top choice ferry, for a VIP-style meet and greet with Captain Dermot O’Neill before sailing home to Barra on Friday.
"I’ve had fun in Oban meeting the scientists and seeing the labs at SAMS, and then boom I’m up on the bridge meeting the Isle of Mull’s captain. It’s been the best start ever to my Easter holidays," said Cal Mac who quizzed the captain on a few ferry technicalities and discussed the weather chances of a smooth sailing home.
Captain O’Neill said Cal Mac was "a captain in the making," and added: "He definitely knows his stuff. I’m impressed. It can take ten years to become a captain but he’s well on his way already!"
Oban port manager Jill Mckechnie said: "It’s been lovely to meet Cal Mac. He’s made quite an impression on us all. His enthusiasm and knowledge is wonderful and his local pride is something special that we are keen to harness."
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Latest News
JOBS
Office Co-ordinator (Sales & Marketing) - Midton Acrylics Ltd
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