The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services – 2007

Seagull Trust Cruises

Free Canal Cruising in Scotland for People with Special Needs

Formerly the Seagull Trust

ã Seagull Trust Cruises
January 2008

Highland

The Highland Branch of the Seagull Trust was formed in 1987 with the aim of providing free canal cruising for those with special needs in the Grampian and Highland regions.  The cruises take place from Inverness on the Caledonian Canal, a commercial waterway that crosses Scotland from the Inverness on the Moray Firth in the East to Corpach on Loch Linnhe in the West.  The Canal is widely used by hired cruisers, private yachts, commercial, fishing and naval vessels who use this scenic crossing of Scotland rather than transit the treacherous Pentland Firth around the North Coast of Scotland.

The Branch was formed with the co-operation of the Trustees at the Seagull Trusts’ Edinburgh headquarters, local councillors and volunteers and was organised by the Director of Libraries and Leisure Services.

Passengers boarding the Highland Seagull at the Twin Jetties, Tomnahurich Bridge.

THE  HIGHLAND  SEAGULL.

A former Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness cruiser, originally named “Jacobite Princess” (built 1975), was acquired with the aid of a £4,000 grant from Highland Regional Council, and was converted to provide suitable boarding facilities and accommodation for people with special needs.  The conversion, which was carried out by Jim Hogan of Caley Marina Inverness under the supervision of Captain Duncan Robertson, involved the fitting of two hydraulic wheelchair lifts, moving the wheelhouse from midships to the stern, fitting a new engine and generator and completely refurbishing the accommodation area.  The two wheelchair lifts allow passengers access from the main deck into the passenger cabin and up from the cabin into the wheelhouse, where they can experience steering the boat if they so desire.  The boat is 48’ 3” (14.7m) long,  9’ 8” (2.95m) wide, and in common with all the other Seagull Trust Canal Boats can carry a maximum off 12 passengers of whom up to 4 may be in wheelchairs.  Additional funding was received from The Highlands & Islands Development Board,  B.B.C. Children In Need,  British Waterways Board and numerous local firms.  In 1989 the refitted cruiser was renamed “Highland Seagull” by the Duke and Duchess of York.

OUR  CRUISES.

Cruising takes place from April to September each year with the Highland Seagull being manned from a pool of 27 unpaid volunteers, half of whom are competent skippers.  Two trips per day are available, at 1030 and 1400 hours Monday to Friday, with each trip lasting about two hours and tea, coffee, juice and biscuits are provided free.  Passengers embark and disembark at the Trusts Twin Jetties on the seaward side of Tomnahurich Bridge. 

The Highland Seagull is equipped with lifesaving appliances and fire fighting equipment to Department of Transport standards and is at all times in radio contact with International and British Waterways frequencies. In the twelve years from 1989 to 2000 we have made 1361 trips carrying a total of 13,683 passengers at an average of about 10 passengers per trip.

Booking arrangements are handled by:  Miss Heather Smart,  Service Point Officer,  Service Point Highland Council,  Memorial Hall,  Fort Augustus.  PH32 4DJ.   Telephone Number:  01320 366733,  Fax: 01320 366774,    E-mail:  heather.smart@highland.gov.uk.

OUR  COMMITTEE.

The present Branch Officers are:-  Ex Provost W.A.E.. Fraser (Chairman);  George Taylor (Vice Chairman);  Alex Keith (Secretary);  Allan Chalmers (Treasurer).  The Committee is ably assisted by our team of 27 volunteers.

We are always looking for volunteers to help with the Branch, so if you live in the Inverness area and are able to give up some of your free time please contact Miss Heather Smart at the telephone number above.

OUR  SPONSORS.

The Committee are very grateful to the following for all the assistance they have given the Highland Branch of the Seagull Trust and they look forward to their continued support in the future:

Jim Hogan, Caley Marina - who, amongst other services, provides free berthing for the Highland Seagull, and generously supplies us with diesel fuel.

The Staff of British Waterways - without whose co-operation the vessel could not operate so efficiently.

The many firms, organisations and individuals who have all made donations to the Highland Branch of the Seagull Trust.

BRANCH CHAIRMANS REPORT for 2005.

We have had a very successful year, with a few problems, the bow thruster for instance, which were overcome and our thanks to the crews for their involvement and perseverance. Highland Seagull operated on 107 days, carrying 1395 passengers, which figures are up on last year, and in addition we had 162 wheel chair passengers.

Long serving crew members Jim Nairn and John Davidson had to retire, and we extend our very sincere thanks to them both for all their efforts over many years and our best wishes for the future. Once again we thank Caley Marina for all their very generous support, and to all who have given donations both on and off the Highland Seagull. At the end of the season Caley Marina took the Highland Seagull out of the water and Grigor Macdonald, Sandy Macdonald, Tom Wallace and George Taylor completely painted the underside and we are most grateful to all four.

At our AGM all the current Office Bearers were re-appointed.

CRUISING FIGURES for 2006.