Having heard rumours from two unconnected sources of 'subsidence' at the pier, we put a series of questions to its owner, Argyll and Bute Council - who said they had no knowledge of any subsidence in the area.
"The only matter we can relate this t
o is proposed scour protection works on the main berth," a spokeswoman told us.
"A dive survey has established two areas of sea bed in front of the old quay wall are subject to scour action from the ferry.
"We are currently working on proposals that will prevent undermining of the wall in the two areas - the work will involve night shift working to minimise disruption to the ferry service, and the duration will be approximately two to three weeks on site."
CalMac's MV Bute carried out berthing trials at Largs on Sunday morning - the largest vessel ever to have berthed at the Ayrshire town's pier - but the company's upper Clyde regional manager, Brian Fulton, said the trials were unrelated to the planned Rothesay pier works, and were merely to find out whether Largs could be used instead of Gourock as an occasional overnight berth if required.
The use of Largs would, he said, not intrude on working hours regulations, and would avoid the need to cancel or divert sailings on the Wemyss Bay service, a move which is required whenever Gourock has to be used overnight.
Meanwhile, work is proceeding apace on the refurbishment of the terminal building on Rothesay pier itself - we understand the relocation of the CalMac ticket office inside the premises, and improvement of the passenger access arrangements, are still on course to be completed just before Easter.
