Approaching Sconser, Skye on 9 May 2015. | |
History | |
---|---|
United Kingdom | |
Name | MV Hallaig |
Namesake | Hallaig |
Owner | Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited |
Operator | Caledonian MacBrayne |
Port of registry | Glasgow |
Route | Sconser - Raasay |
Ordered | 2011 |
Builder | Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow |
Cost | £ 10 million (2011) |
Yard number | 725 |
Launched | 17 December 2012 |
Christened | by Nicola Sturgeon |
Completed | 2013 |
Identification |
|
Status | In Service |
General characteristics | |
Type | Hybrid ro-ro vehicle and passenger ferry |
Tonnage | |
Length |
|
Beam | 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in) |
Draught | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) |
Deck clearance | 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in) |
Installed power |
|
Propulsion | 2x Voith 16 R5 EC/90-1 Units |
Speed | 9 kn (17 km/h) |
Capacity |
|
Crew | 3 |
Notes | [2] |
MV Hallaig is a pioneering Diesel Electric Hybrid ferry built for the Caledonian MacBrayne service between Skye and Raasay.
Hallaig was launched in December 2012 at Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. [3] The name comes from a poem, written by Sorley MacLean, itself named after an abandoned township on Raasay. [4] Hallaig was the first commercial ship to be fully built and delivered on the Clyde in over five years. The Scottish Government invested more than £20 million in the project. [3]
Hallaig is the first of three roll-on roll-off hybrid-powered ferries. She has a low-carbon system of diesel electric and lithium-ion battery power. [3]
The 135-ton vessel is 43.5 metres (143 feet) long and accommodates 150 passengers and 23 cars or two HGVs. [5]
Hallaig was built for the service between Sconser on Skye and Raasay and commenced service on 17 October 2013. [3] The Clydebuilt Hallaig began her first sea trials on 5 August 2013, eight months after her launch, although she had moved in and out of dry dock in Greenock under her own power in July 2013. The delay in her entry to service was caused by a last minute change in fire safety regulations which required her and her sister Lochinvar to have insulation fitted extensively to exposed steel and aluminium on board. In April 2014, Hallaig temporarily relieved on the Mallaig-Armadale service after MV Coruisk was involved in an incident at Dunoon and had to have her bow extensively rebuilt. [6]
In March 2018, she relieved on the Lochaline - Fishnish route so that her sister MV Lochinvar could go for her overhaul.
Caledonian MacBrayne, in short form CalMac, is the trade name of CalMac Ferries Ltd, the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries to the west coast of Scotland, serving ports on the mainland and 22 of the major islands. It is a subsidiary of holding company David MacBrayne, which is owned by the Scottish Government.
The Caledonian MacBrayne fleet is the largest fleet of car and passenger ferries in the United Kingdom, with 35 ferries in operation, with one, MV Glen Sannox, currently undergoing crew familiarisation and harbour berthing trials ahead of being introduced into service. A further 5 vessels are currently under construction for the fleet. 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 Hebrides is a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert, the main settlements of North Uist and Harris respectively.
MV Hebridean Isles was a ro-ro vehicle ferry that was operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the west coast of Scotland. She was the first MacBrayne vessel to be ordered and built for them outside Scotland and the first to be launched sideways. With bow, stern and side ramps, Hebridean Isles was suitable for all the routes served by the large fleet units. After 15 years crossing the Little Minch on the Uig triangle, she served Islay and Colonsay before being retired in November 2024, after almost 40 years of service.
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 Lochnevis is a ferry launched in 2000 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, serving the Small Isles of Scotland.
MV Loch Bhrusda is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited water-jet propulsion ro-ro car ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. After 11 years operating in the Outer Hebrides, she is now a Clyde-based relief small vessel.
MV Coruisk is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 2003, operated by Scottish ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne and serving the west coast of Scotland.
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 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 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. As of 2024, she is the oldest vessel in the CalMac fleet.
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.
MV Raasay is a bow-loading passenger and vehicle ferry formerly owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets serving Raasay until 2001. She now operates a cargo service to Inishbofin, County Galway from Cleggan.
MV Loch Seaforth was the Stornoway mailboat operated by David MacBrayne Ltd, from 1947 until 1972. Running aground and sinking in 1973, she blocked the Tiree pier, until removed for scrapping.
MV Bute was a Clyde vehicle ferry introduced by Caledonian Steam Packet Company in 1954. She spent 24 years on the Upper Clyde crossings. During her final years with Calmac, she relieved in the west highlands.
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 Loch Seaforth is a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne between Stornoway and Ullapool. She was launched on 21 March 2014 and entered service in mid-February 2015, replacing both the former vessel, 1995-built MV Isle of Lewis and a chartered freight vessel.
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 Catriona is a 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.