| US defence staff
conceded last week that high level bombing of Afghanistan did occasionally lead to
ordinance going astray after admitting responsibility for hitting the Arran ferry. The offending offensive weapon had been released over
Kabul, as part of the US plans to bomb the city of rubble to smaller pieces of rubble.
Instead, due to a glitch in the on-board avionics, the bomb, according to a Pentagon
source, "went a tiny bit off course" gliding west for 3000 miles before dropping
in on the Brodick-bound blue boat.
The ferry captain told the JT, "At just after
10am, we all heard an enormous explosion coming from the front of the ship, so we all
rushed out of the bar to have a look." |
And it was this far
sighted policy that may have saved lives. In common with other island ferries, the Arran
boat bar opens just after clearing Ardrossan and the entire complement of passengers and
crew were safely ensconced in the bar at the rear of the ship when the off-course
ordinance struck. The cunning captain
revealed that the ferry's steering is fully automatic using a complex system of a rope
lashed to the wheel keeping the ferry roughly pointed towards Arran at all times and an
alarm clock set to warn crew of the imminent threat of colliding with Brodick pier.
Ferry operator, Caledonian McBrayne are set to sue
the US defense Department for damages, complaining that with all the excitement generated
by the errant munitions, bar takings on the ferry are down. |
