MV Eigg

Last updated

MV Eigg.jpg
MV Eigg loading at Achnacriosh, Lismore
History
Civil Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg United Kingdom & Ireland
Name
Namesake Eigg
OwnerClare Island Ferry Co.
Operator
Port of registry Glasgow
RouteRoonagh–Clare Island
Builder
Yard number423
Launched12 December 1974 [2]
In service25 February 1975 [3]
Out of serviceApril 2018 (CalMac) [4]
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics
TypeLanding craft
Tonnage69  GT [3]
Length22.5 m (73 ft 10 in)
Beam6.4 m (21 ft 0 in)
Draught1.4 m (4 ft 7 in)
Installed power
  • (originally) Twin diesel 2 × M6cy 150 bhp (110 kW) each
  • (currently) 2 × Scania D9 93M35 9 litre turbocharged 6 cyl diesels each rated at 257 hp (192 kW) at 1900 rpm. [7]
PropulsionTwin screw
Speed8 kn (15 km/h)
Capacity5 cars and 75 passengers [2]
Crew3

MV Eigg is a landing craft car ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne in 1974. She was owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated mostly on the Oban to Lismore route from 1976 until 2013. She was the oldest vessel in the CalMac fleet at her retirement in April 2018. As of June 2018, she is based at Clare Island in County Mayo.

Contents

History

MV Eigg was the sixth [8] Island Class ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne.

Layout

The eight Island Class ferries, built between 1972 and 1976, were a very simple design, based on World War II landing craft. They had a two-part folding ramp at the bow, an open plan car deck incorporating a small turntable immediately aft and a sheltered area of passenger accommodation at the stern. The wheelhouse was above the passenger accommodation and the main mast above the ramp at the bow. A radar mast sat on top of the bridge, just forward of the small funnel and engine exhaust. [8]

In 1999 MV Eigg's wheelhouse was raised to provide an unobstructed view. Later that year, she was given the livery of the rest of the fleet, with a black hull, becoming the most easily identified Island Class ship. [3]

Service

MV Eigg entered service in 1975, on the Raasay crossing from Portree on Skye, bringing vehicle capability to the route. Replaced by her sister, MV Canna in January 1976, Eigg began her career as the Lismore ferry. [3]

In 1996, Eigg became the Kilchoan ferry (from Tobermory on Mull). She had a IIA passenger certificate and, when required, was able to provide livestock runs between Mallaig and the Small Isles. Her relief vessel was MV Bruernish or MV Coll. [3] In 1999, she once again became the dedicated Lismore vessel. Eigg has also seen service on relief at Jura on charter for Argyll and Bute Council.

In 2013, following the entry to service of MV Hallaig at Raasay, Eigg was replaced on the Lismore service by MV Loch Riddon. Despite her replacement, Eigg was given another annual overhaul and passenger certificate in March 2014 and remained spare at Oban. In 2015, Eigg moved to the James Watt Dock marina, Greenock and remained there, sometimes taking a sail around the Greenock area.

In 2017, Eigg was moved to Sandbank and was put up for sale in December 2017. [9] She had one more survey in Corpach in March 2018. She was returned to owner, CMAL [10] and was expected to be sold to new owners on the west coast of Ireland. On the 30th of June 2018, she arrived at Clare Island to take up service there, alongside her sister MV Clew Bay Queen.

Later in 2018 she was sold to new owners Clare Island Ferry Co. of Ireland, and as of December 2020 she is available for hire or bare boat charter. She can be employed for cargo, RORO passenger, work platform, marine construction, dive support, survey works, anchor handling and fish farm works. [11]

Related Research Articles

MV <i>Clansman</i>

MV Clansman is a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, operating from Oban on the west coast of Scotland.

Caledonian MacBrayne fleet

The Caledonian MacBrayne fleet is the largest fleet of car and passenger ferries in the United Kingdom, with 34 units in operation and another 2 under construction. 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 <i>Lord of the Isles</i> Scottish ferry launched 1989

MV Lord of the Isles is one of the larger Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferries, run by Caledonian MacBrayne and largely operating from Mallaig on the west of Scotland. Built in Port Glasgow, she is the most-travelled vessel in the CalMac fleet.

MV <i>Hebrides</i> Scottish ferry

MV Hebrides is a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert, the main settlements of North Uist and Harris respectively.

MV <i>Hebridean Isles</i>

MV Hebridean Isles is a ro-ro vehicle ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the west coast of Scotland. She was the first MacBrayne vessel to be built outside Scotland and the first to be launched sideways. With bow, stern and side ramps, Hebridean Isles is suitable for all the routes served by the large fleet units. After 15 years crossing the Little Minch on the Uig triangle, she now serves Islay.

MV <i>Lochnevis</i>

MV Lochnevis is a Caledonian Maritime Assets ferry, launched in 2000. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, serving the Small Isles of Scotland.

MV <i>Canna</i>

MV Canna is a car ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) in 1975. She spent 21 years in various locations on the west of Scotland and 20 years at Rathlin Island, Northern Island, before moving to Arranmore.

MV <i>Loch Striven</i>

MV Loch Striven is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. After over ten years at Largs, she spent 16 years on the Raasay crossing. Since 2014, she has been stationed on the Oban - Lismore crossing.

MV <i>Loch Linnhe</i>

MV Loch Linnhe is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne After over ten years at Largs, she was the summer vessel on the Tobermory–Kilchoan crossing from 1999 to 2017.

MV <i>Loch Riddon</i>

MV Loch Riddon is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. After the first eleven years of her life in the Kyles of Bute, she served at Largs between 1997 and 2013. After a short spell as the Lismore vessel she returned to Largs in June 2014.

MV <i>Isle of Cumbrae</i>

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 <i>Loch Tarbert</i>

MV Loch Tarbert is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1992 and currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. She has spent most of her career on the seasonal Claonaig – Lochranza crossing.

MV <i>Raasay</i>

MV Raasay is a bow-loading passenger and vehicle ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets serving Raasay until 2001, and now a spare vessel.

MV <i>Claymore</i> (1955)

MV Claymore (II) was David MacBrayne's last mail boat built in 1955. She served on the Inner Isles Mail on the west coast of Scotland until 1972. Subsequently sold for day cruising in the Greek Islands until 1993, she sank at her mooring in 2000.

Caledonian Maritime Assets

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited owns the ferries, ports, harbours and infrastructure for the ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland, the Firth of Clyde and the Northern Isles.

MV <i>Rhum</i>

MV Rhum is a car ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne in 1974. Until 1987, she operated the seasonal Lochranza crossing to Arran. Since 1998, she has been one of the Arranmore ferries in County Donegal.

MV <i>Clew Bay Queen</i>

MV Clew Bay Queen is a car ferry at Clare Island. Built in 1972 as MV Kilbrannan for Caledonian MacBrayne, she operated mainly at Scalpay, Outer Hebrides until 1992. As Arainn Mhor, she then operated the Arranmore ferry in County Donegal.

MV <i>Hallaig</i>

MV Hallaig is a pioneering Diesel Electric Hybrid ferry built for the Caledonian MacBrayne service between Skye and Raasay.

MV <i>Lochinvar</i>

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.

MV <i>Catriona</i>

MV Catriona is a pioneering diesel electric hybrid passenger and vehicle roll-on, roll-off ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne for the Claonaig–Lochranza crossing. She is the third hybrid ferry commissioned and owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets, one of three such ferries in the world to incorporate a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and lithium ion battery power. The ferries are sea-going and are nearly 46 metres (150 ft) long, accommodating 150 passengers, 23 cars or two HGVs.

References

  1. ↑ "MV Eigg". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  2. 1 2 "MV Eigg". Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "MV Eigg". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  4. ↑ "Caledonian MacBrayne's oldest ferry MV Eigg 'retired'". BBC News. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "Eigg IMO: 7340411". Shipspotting.com. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  6. ↑ "Latest AIS for MV Eigg". ShipAIS. Retrieved 2 January 2010.
  7. ↑ "More power for the ferries" (PDF). Revs. Scania. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Island Class Vessels". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  9. ↑ "For Sale: bow loading ferry". Apollo Duck. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "End of an era as last 'Island' class retires". CalMac. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  11. ↑ "MV Eigg" (PDF). Clare Island Ferry Co. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.