![]() Arriving at Craignure from Oban, 8 May 2017. | |
History | |
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Name |
|
Namesake | Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Cuillin of Skye |
Owner | Caledonian Maritime Assets |
Operator | Caledonian MacBrayne |
Port of registry | Glasgow |
Route |
|
Builder | Appledore Shipbuilders, Bideford, Devon [1] |
Cost | £6.75 million [2] |
Yard number | 190 |
Launched | 3 May 2003 [2] |
Completed | 2003 |
In service | 14 August 2003 |
Identification |
|
Status | in service |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | ro-ro vehicle ferry |
Tonnage | |
Length | 65 m (213 ft 3 in) [1] |
Beam | 14 m (45 ft 11 in) [1] |
Draft | 3.05 m (10 ft 0 in) |
Installed power | Machinery: 6M20 each rated at 1000kW @ 1000 rpm |
Propulsion | Two Schottel Rudder Propellers type STP 1010 |
Speed | 14 kn (26 km/h) |
Capacity | 250 passengers and 40 cars [4] |
Crew | 12 |
MV Coruisk (Scottish Gaelic : Coir' Uisg') is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 2003, operated by Scottish ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne and serving the west coast of Scotland.
Following her launch at Appledore's yard in early 2003, Coruisk left on her delivery voyage on 2 August. She carried out berthing trials on the Clyde before taking over the Mallaig to Armadale route on 14 August. She was officially named at Armadale by Baroness Ray Michie of Gallanach at a special ceremony. [2]
Initial technical problems required MV Pioneer to resume the service for some time. On 24 August, Coruisk lost power and struck a reef at the Mallaig harbour entrance, losing one of her propulsion units. She went to the Clyde for repairs and did not return to Mallaig that season. The following winter season at Dunoon was only slightly more successful, with slow berthing and many passenger complaints adding to her worsening reputation. [2] Subsequent seasons have been less eventful.
In March 2014, she ran into the pier at Dunoon, sustaining serious damage but managed to make her own way to Greenock to be assessed for repairs. [5]
The design of Coruisk is unique. [2] As well as bow and stern ramps, allowing drive-through operation, she also has a port side ramp, allowing side-loading on the Clyde in winter months. The bow ramp is protected by an open visor, similar to those found on Orkney and Shetland inter-island ferries. Clearance on the car deck is 5.1 metres (16 feet 9 inches). [2]
Above the car deck are two passenger decks, one containing the main lounge areas with toilets and a small shop/kiosk. A small external deck area on the same level, both fore and aft of the lounges, has stairways leading to the open deck above. Crew accommodation is on the upper deck. Sitting even further up, the bridge gives the master a view down over bow and stern. A temporary modification is made for the winter seasons to accommodate the gangways at Wemyss Bay and Rothesay.
Schottel electric azimuth thrusters incorporate rotating pods protruding beneath the hull, with two propellers on each. Although similar to Voith Schneider units, the vessel proved much harder to control and manoeuvre.
Coruisk was the sole vessel on the Mallaig to Armadale service in summers until 2016. In winter, she relieves on the Upper Clyde, while MV Lochnevis adds Armadale to her Small Isles roster. Since 2011, when the Gourock to Dunoon service (operated by Argyll Ferries until 2019) became passenger-only, Coruisk relieves at Rothesay and provides support on the Dunoon crossing. [6]
From March 2016 until July 2022, Coruisk was the second ferry on the Oban–Craignure route on the summer timetable, alongside MV Isle of Mull. [7] She was replaced at Mallaig for the 2016 season by the smaller MV Lochinvar, MV Loch Bhrusda and MV Lord of the Isles (in between the latter's Lochboisdale–Mallaig sailings). This shuffling of the Mallaig fleet was criticised, with campaigners calling for Coruisk to remain at Mallaig with MV Lord of the Isles. CalMac announced that Coruisk would remain on the Oban–Craignure route for a second summer season: the Skye crossing being operated by MV Lord of the Isles and MV Loch Fyne. [8] That arrangement was expected to continue until MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa entered service,[ citation needed ] but in summer 2022, when MV Loch Frisa entered service at Craignure, Coruisk returned to Mallaig. [9] [10]
Argyll and Bute is one of 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area. The current lord-lieutenant for Argyll and Bute is Jane Margaret MacLeod. The administrative centre for the council area is in Lochgilphead at Kilmory Castle, a 19th-century Gothic Revival building and estate. The current council leader is Robin Currie, a councillor for Kintyre and the Islands.
Caledonian MacBrayne, usually shortened to CalMac, is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast. Since 2006, the company's official name has been CalMac Ferries Ltd, although it still operates as Caledonian MacBrayne. In 2006, it became a subsidiary of holding company David MacBrayne, which is owned by the Scottish Government.
MV Caledonian Isles, usually referred to locally as the Cally Isles, is one of the largest ships operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), which runs ferries to the Hebridean and Clyde Islands of Scotland. Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route. As it is one of CalMac's busiest routes, Caledonian Isles has the largest passenger capacity in the fleet, and can carry up to 1000 passengers and 110 cars, with a crossing time of 55 minutes. She is used extensively by day-trippers to the Isle of Arran during the summer.
MV Isle of Lewis is a ro-ro ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne between Oban and Castlebay, Barra. Built in 1995, she remains one of only two ships in the CalMac fleet over 100 metres (328 ft) in length; the other, Loch Seaforth, being longer by almost 15 metres.
The Caledonian MacBrayne fleet is the largest fleet of car and passenger ferries in the United Kingdom, with 34 ferries in operation, 2 on charter and another 6 on order. The company provides lifeline services to 23 islands off the west coast of Scotland, as well as operating routes in the Firth of Clyde.
MV Lord of the Isles is one of the larger Caledonian MacBrayne vessels and operates from Mallaig on the west of Scotland. Built in Port Glasgow, she is the most-travelled vessel in the CalMac fleet.
MV Isle of Mull is one of the larger ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Oban on the west of Scotland.
MV Isle of Arran is a drive-through ferry operated on the west coast of Scotland by Caledonian MacBrayne. Entering service in 1984, she served on the Arran route for nine years before being moved to Kennacraig. She returned to her original route in 2012, supplementing MV Caledonian Isles in summer and becoming a relief vessel in winter. In 2013, she started a new pilot route from Ardrossan to Campbeltown, which became a permanent fixture in 2015. As of 2023, she is one of the oldest vessels in the fleet, having been in service for 40 years; upon arriving into Oban in the West Highlands, celebrations were mounted ashore to mark the 40th anniversary of her launch and service on 2 December 2023.
MV Loch Fyne is a Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry, owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, built in 1991 for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating the Mallaig to Armadale route in western Scotland. She becomes a relief vessel in the winter, covering other vessels for annual overhaul and any breakdowns.
MV Ali Cat is a motor catamaran passenger ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, which along with MV Argyll Flyer provides a service from Dunoon to Gourock across the Firth of Clyde.
MV Jupiter was a passenger and vehicle ferry in the fleet of Caledonian MacBrayne in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. She was the oldest of three "streakers" and the third River Clyde ship to bear the name 'Jupiter'. Her open car deck was accessible by stern and side ramps ro-ro. She entered service in 1974, and operated the Gourock to Dunoon crossing for much of her career. In 2006, she became the oldest vessel in the CalMac fleet and continued in service with them until 2010. Jupiter was sold for breaking in 2011.
MV Pioneer is a stern / side loading ferry built in 1974, in service for 29 years covering nearly all of Caledonian MacBrayne's routes. She now serves the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea and was chartered to rescue Liberian refugees.
MV Orion is a ro-ro passenger and vehicle ferry. Saturn was operated by Caledonian MacBrayne in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland between 1978 and 2011, for the first decade of her career on the Rothesay crossing. Later, she also saw service on the Dunoon and Brodick crossings, as well as on short cruises around the Clyde.
MV Pentalina-B was a ferry which operated on a variety of Scottish routes. Launched in 1970 as MV Iona, she was the first drive-through roll-on/roll-off ferry built for the David MacBrayne fleet. She was the first ship in the company's history to have bridge-controlled engines and geared transmission, rather than direct drive. During her career she inaugurated more endloading linkspans than the rest of the fleet put together. Purchased by Pentland Ferries in 1997, she was renamed MV Pentalina-B and operated across the Pentland Firth until the arrival of their new vessel. In 2009, she was sold to a Cape Verde owner.
MV Glen Sannox was a Clyde car ferry launched in 1957. Built for the Arran service, she spent her first 14 years there. Thereafter, she had a versatile career on the west coast of Scotland, lasting over 32 years, including providing cruises between 1977 and 1982. In 1989, she was sold for service on the Red Sea. She ran aground south of Jeddah and lay in a sunken condition from 2000.
MV Isle of Cumbrae is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1976 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. For ten years she was at Largs and operated the Loch Fyne crossing from 1999 to 2014. She was replaced by the MV Lochinvar in 2014, a new diesel-electric hybrid ferry capable of holding 23 cars and 150 passengers. She returned to Tarbert in 2016 after MV Lochinvar was moved to the Mallaig - Armadale station. She is now the oldest vessel in the Calmac fleet.
MV Arran was a pioneering Firth of Clyde vehicle ferry introduced by Caledonian Steam Packet Company in 1953. She spent fifteen years on the Upper Clyde crossings, followed by five years at Islay. Initially hoist-loading, via side ramps, these were replaced by a stern ramp in 1973. During her final years with CalMac, she relieved across the network. Several unsuccessful attempts were made to turn her into a floating restaurant, before she was scrapped in 1993.
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MV Lochinvar is a pioneering diesel electric hybrid ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne. Initially, she operated between Tarbert and Portavadie, was moved to the Mallaig to Armadale route in 2016 and currently operates on the Lochaline to Fishnish route. She is one of only three passenger and vehicle roll-on, roll-off ferries in the world to incorporate a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and lithium ion battery power and is the second hybrid ferry commissioned and owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets. The ferries are sea-going and are 43.5 m (143 ft) long, accommodating 150 passengers, 23 cars or two HGVs. The first ferry, MV Hallaig, entered service on the Sconser to Raasay route in October 2013. The third sister ship, MV Catriona, entered service in 2016.
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Media related to MV Coruisk at Wikimedia Commons