#TimberLinks– Coast Lines Shipping Ltd's Ayress discharged round timber at Passage West, Cork Harbour, from where she is returning today to load the same cargo at Campeltown, Scotland, writes Jehan Ashmore.

The privately owned wharf, at Passage West near Monkstown, in the centre of Cork Harbour handles short-sea coasters in which the Dominica flagged Ayress (1979/1,713grt) is a typical example. Branded as the 'Timber-Link' by the Midelton, Co. Cork company, the single hold 80m vessel is due to arrive at Campeltown tomorrow to load more timber.

Such trade between the two countries, Afloat several years ago reported on which can be read by clicking here.

Nearby to Passage West is the local service of Cross River Ferries that uses a pair of former Scottish ferries that ran to Skye, that link communities across the expanse of Cork Harbour. During the summer, the short-cut becomes busier with tourists visiting Cobh and ferry traffic also from France.

As pictured above is the New Pier at Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre where timber is exported to Irish ports, notably along the eastern seaboard. Among the ports are: Wicklow (see transfer to local authority), Rosslare and Youghal to the east of Cork Harbour.

On the adjacent berth can also been seen behind the stack of round timber, the gantry structure of the roll-on roll-off linkspan serving Calmac’s thrice weekly operated Campeltown-Ardrossan route.

On Saturday’s only, ferry, Isle of Arran serves her namesake with an en route call to the island at Brodick before completing the sailing to Ardrossan on the mainland.

The seasonal-only route which became ‘permanent’ this season following a three-year pilot trial, is even more secure as CalMac recently signed an eight-year contract to operate Clyde and Hebridean west isles services.