> Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Scottish government discriminating against > Orkney and Shetland > > > I guess the next step will be to install viking style oars, and to > encourage the passengers to help out! > > Our Ontario government tried this two engine passage idea with the > Ch-iCheemaun. The concept went over like a pregnant poll vaulter. > In fact, our Davie family historically had a little to do with > ferries and other sea vessels. My GGGGGreat grandpa James built > york boats for the HBC on Hudson Bay, as did John Davie, and a few > others (circa 1775). Then in 1825 Allison Davie, of a Davie family > line who ended up in England, came to this country and then he and > a Thompson started the company. They built war ships to help fight > in WW1 and WW2, and since have continued building boats, many for > the military, but many ferry type of craft. > > The point is, that the key to efficiency on the water, on the roads > and in the air, is simply better design, better technology, and > more common sense. Evaluation of the work task is a vital input > factor. Many of the Orkney ferries, while servicable, present older > technology and thinking, and regrettably, efficiencies. But they > still run, if at a higher fuel cost and lower overall effectiveness. > > I guess to say it another way, if you want to save money in the > long run, sometimes you have to spend money. This time honoured > value, is often somewhat difficult to explain to a Scot. Also, with > technology, timing matters. > > You can google Davie Yards to see some of the newer projects. > Interestingly, the company is heavily involved in offshore units > for the wells located in places like the North Sea, off of Orkney. > The technology used in the oil-at-sea business is very highly > engineered and specialized. That type of technical integrity is > important to employ in new ferry boats, albeit the task is much > more work horse in nature, than assembling an operation tower over > a sea well in a historically rough sea. > > Orkney's new ferry boats will be different. Current day > environmental demands, will produce that result. And they will be > much more efficient, and well thought out. > Meanwhile, fillup the tanks, and push those ferries on four > engines. In truth, they'rre saving next to nothing, and just > pi**ing people off. > > Cheers...and thanks....interesting string today. > > Stephen > On Mar 17, 2010, at 1:47 PM, Bruce Fletcher ((Stronsay, Orkney)) > wrote: > >> Northlink timetables have been arbitrarily amended because the >> Scottish >> government ordered Northlink to run the Shetland ferries on two >> engines >> rather than four engines - to save fuel. More information on these >> webpages >> <http://www.orkneytoday.co.uk/news_item.asp?newsItem=6335> >> <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8557666.stm> >> And a petition here >> <http://www.gopetition.com/online/34810.html> >> -- >> Bruce Fletcher >> Stronsay, Orkney >> _______________________________________ >> Orcadia Group Photo Album >> http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ORCADIA- >> request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> > > > >