| 3.7.3 | AREA 3 - ARDNAMURCHAN TO BARRA HEAD; CAPE WRATH TO THE FLANNAN ISLES |
| 3.7.3.1 | This region is a particularly busy one and one which contains all the elements of the typical Scottish west coast: islands, inlets, shallow and narrow passages, some with very strong tidal streams. There are several ferry services and the area is increasingly popular with leisure craft of all types, containing as it does some of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Scotland. There is also a great deal of fishing activity in the area. |
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Reproduced from Admiralty Chart 2635 by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk) NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATON
Figure 4: ShipRoutes overlay for the 102 routes identified within 10.00 nm of the Minches.
| 3.7.3.2 | Most importantly, this area contains two major shipping routes: |
The Minch route to the east of the Outer Hebrides (See figure 4 above). There are 2530 ships movements per annum over 102 routes within a 10nm range of the Minches;
The Deep Water Route to the west of the Outer Hebrides (See figure 5 below). There are 540 ships per annum over 57 routes within a 15nm range of Monach Lighthouse.
Reproduced
from Admiralty Chart 2635 by permission of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery
Office and the UK Hydrographic Office (www.ukho.gov.uk)
NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATON
Figure 5: ShipRoutes overlay for the 57 routes identified within 15.00 nm of
Monach LH.
| 3.7.3.3 | A major transfer of AtoN from Western Isles Council to NLB responsibility has taken place in the Sound of Harris and Sound of Barra. A review of the area has resulted in the lighting, repositioning of existing buoys and the establishing of new buoy stations, including the installation of a racon buoy at Cabbage in the Cope passage. |
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| 3.7.3.4 | It is intended to establish an AIS Base Station on St Kilda, to assist with the preservation of this environmentally sensitive area. |
| 3.7.3.5 | A substantial response to a consultation letter sent to Harbour Masters within this area would indicate that the present mix of AtoN maintained by both NLB and the Local Lighthouse Authorities' (LLA's) meet the needs of the mariner. However, a number of changes are proposed, which include: |