North Pier (A)
The North Pier is owned and operated by Argyll& Bute Council which is the Statutory Harbour Authority for this facility.
See our Harbourmaster page for conact details.
The main berth lies on the South West side of the Pier and is 73 metres long. At Low Water there is a depth of approximately 3 metres depth at the South East end and 5 metres depth at the North West end.
The South East side of the Pier is used by a variety of small vessels including fish farm RIBS, the Oban Marina ferry charter boats and those vessels that wish to dry out. Care must be taken as this berth is shallow and dries at Spring Low Water.
The North West side of the Pier is used by a variety of small commercial vessels, i.e. fish farm servicing vessels, dive boats, tugs, etc and also by small leisure, charter and sail training vessels. The depth alongside at Low Water varies but is approximately 2 metres.
Harbour dues that apply to the North Pier can be found here.
South Quay (B)
The South Quay is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) which is also the Statutory Harbour Authority for this facility. Use of this Quay (and Railway Pier and slipway) is covered by CMAL’s terms, conditions and charges.
The South Quay is reserved for use by fishing vessels to land their catch. Other vessels are not permitted to berth on this Quay.
The allocation of berths, the movement of vessels to and from the South Quay and the collection of harbour dues is undertaken by CalMac Ferries Ltd on behalf of CMAL.
Contact details for CalMac’s Piermaster are as follows:-
Email: oban.piermaster@calmac.co.uk
Tel: 01631 565854
The Quay is approximately 90 metres long and is normally used by vessels up to 20metres in length. At Low Water there is approximately 3 metres depth of water at the East end and 5m at the West end.
The shore facilities, including the supply of bulk ice, are operated under contract to CMAL by Oban Port Users Ltd, Unit 1, South Pier, Oban, PA34 4LS. Tel: 01631 563354
Railway Pier (C)
The Railway Pier is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) which is also the Statutory Harbour Authority for this facility. It is operated under contract to CMAL by CalMac Ferries Ltd.
The linkspan berths (D) are reserved for use by ferries and no other vessels are permitted to use them.
On the inner side of No.2 linkspan there is approximately 110metres of berthing for fishing and other small commercial vessels up to 25 metres in length. The depth alongside at Low Water varies from 4.5 metres at the South end to 2.5 metres at the North end.
The slipway used by the Lismore ferry can be used, outside of ferry times, to launch and recover trailered vessels. Use of the slipway can only be undertaken with the specific permission of the Piermaster.
Northern Lighthouse Board Wharf (E)
This is a private facility and it is owned and operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). The Wharf is used by the NLB’s two tenders, Pharos and Pole Star, to load and discharge a variety of materials and equipment for the maintenance of buoys and other navigation marks.
By prior arrangement it can also be available to other commercial vessels.
The berth is 100 metres in length and can accommodate vessels up to a maximum draught of 5 metres.