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 Hebridean Isles (nicknamed "Heb Isles" amongst crew and passengers alike) was constructed at Cochrane Shipbuilders's yard in Selby and launched sideways into the Ouse in 1985. She was the first MacBrayne vessel to be built outside Scotland, the first to be launched sideways and the first to be launched by royalty – the Duchess of Kent.[5]
Broadly similar to the MVIsle of Arran, she was intended for the Uig triangle, but was designed to be suitable for use anywhere within the network. Following her delivery voyage, she conducted trials at various ports around the network, but did not take up duties at Uig, Skye until spring 1986. MV Columba, the winter relief ship continued there while construction works were carried out at the various piers. New linkspans were required at all three terminals, so the new ship found temporary employment as a winter relief vessel at Ullapool and Oban, where she stood in for the MVCaledonia and MVGlen Sannox. Even when she took over at Uig, she still had to use her hoist at the Skye terminal for eight months while the new berth at the end of the pier was finished.[4]
She brought vastly improved standards of passenger comfort and became popular, with slightly reduced sailing times and, once she was able to use her bow and stern ramps, greatly reduced turnaround times.[6]
Layout
MV Hebridean Isles' design incorporated a bow visor, bow and stern ramps, and a vehicle hoist with side ramps. This made her suitable for all the routes served by the large fleet units. Her spacious car deck could accommodate 60 cars,[2] with passenger accommodation on two decks forward of the hoist. One deck comprised the cafeteria furthest aft, then the entrance concourse, shop and information point, with the reclining lounge and bar towards the bow. The bar was converted to a Coffee Cabin in December 2008. Above the cafeteria was the observation lounge with crew accommodation forward of this. The bridge was on the next level at the bow. Externally there was ample deck space including, like the Isle of Arran, a deck area forward of the bridge, giving passengers a view ahead.[4]
Service
MV Hebridean Isles spent her first 15 years crossing the Little Minch from Uig to Tarbert and Lochmaddy (Lochmaddy only on Sundays), using her stern ramp at Uig and her bow visor and ramp at both Tarbert and Lochmaddy. Demand eventually became too much and she was replaced by the larger MVHebrides in 2001.[4]Hebridean Isles headed south as the dedicated Islay ferry, taking over from MVIsle of Arran. Operating out of Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula, she sailed to Port Ellen and Port Askaig. During the summer season, she continued to Colonsay and Oban on Wednesdays, returning to Kennacraig in the evening. Between 2003 and 2011, she was joined by Isle of Arran in the summer, providing a series of additional sailings throughout the week and maintaining the service on Wednesdays during the Oban extension.[6]
For six months from October 2002, she was chartered to NorthLink Ferries and inaugurated their Stromness to Scrabster service. She continued to relieve there each winter.[6]
During June and July 2010, Hebridean Isles was redeployed on the Oban to Coll and Tiree run, replacing MVClansman, which had suffered major engine problems. She hit the pier at Scarinish, Tiree, on the late afternoon of 29 June 2010, sustaining a hole above the waterline. Reverse pitch was selected prior to the collision but an unspecified problem prevented reverse engaging. The vessel returned to Oban for repairs and resumed the Coll and Tiree run two days after the incident.
In summer 2011, MVFinlaggan joined Hebridean Isles as the main Islay vessel, freeing up Isle of Arran as a spare vessel.[7]
On 28 January 2014, it was announced that Hebridean Isles would temporarily take over freight services between Ullapool and Stornoway in the Western Isles, due to the freight ferry MSClipper Ranger colliding with the pier at Stornoway.
Hebridean Isles relieved on the Uig Triangle alongside Isle of Arran in January and February 2016 whilst Hebrides was away covering for other vessels.[8] In July 2016, she collided with the pier at Kennacraig, with her traffic being carried by Finlaggan and the cargo boat Red Princess.
In October 2016, Hebridean Isles provided a twice-nightly freight service on the Ullapool - Stornoway route whilst MVLoch Seaforth was in dry-dock.
From 3 January to 21 January 2017, Hebridean Isles relieved on the Ardrossan - Brodick crossing alongside Isle of Arran whilst MVCaledonian Isles was away for her annual overhaul. She repeated this relief service in January 2018, 2019 and 2020.
During April and May 2018, Hebridean Isles operated an Oban - Lochboisdale service whilst MVLord of the Isles covered for MVClansman's repair at James Watt Dock in Greenock.[9]
In September 2018, Hebridean Isles relieved on the Ardrossan - Brodick crossing in place of MVIsle of Arran, which was out of service owing to issues with her propeller shaft. Caledonian Isles had also sustained damage to her loading ramps whilst carrying an overweight vehicle. Hebridean Isles provided additional capacity on the Ardrossan-Brodick crossing, in addition to her first ever sailing to Campbeltown [citation needed] due to Caledonian Isles operating with a reduced capacity.[10] Additionally, MVLoch Linnhe provided additional sailings on the Claonaig to Lochranza crossing to help ease congestion.[11]
After relieving at Arran in January 2019, Hebridean Isles returned in March 2019 to cover for Caledonian Isles, which had rammed the pier at Brodick and sustained damage to her bow visor as a result of her bow thrusters failing.[12]
From January - February 2022, Hebridean Isles relieved on the Ardrossan - Brodick route. She operated the route alone (rather than alongside Isle of Arran) due to a temporary timetable caused by staff absences relating to COVID-19. She remained on the route for over a month as a result of delays to Caledonian Isles' return to service.[13]
2023 Breakdown disruption
In January 2023, Hebridean Isles was scheduled to relieve Caledonian Isles on the Ardrossan - Brodick route alongside MVIsle of Arran. However, Hebridean Isles was affected by a number of technical faults, so Isle of Arran operated the service alone. Hebridean Isles provided some freight services between Brodick and Troon before developing another fault in late February and being removed from service. The situation was further compounded by the delayed return of MVCaledonian Isles from overhaul.[14]
Hebridean Isles remained out of service through summer 2023.[15] She spent time laid up in Troon and Ayr, and in dry dock at Greenock and Birkenhead, where a further rudder fault was discovered during sea trials.[16][17] CalMac reported pitch control issues with her controllable pitch propellers.[18] Her absence led to disruption to the Islay, Lochboisdale, Arran and Campbeltown services.[18] The Campbeltown route was cancelled for the full summer, with MVIsle of Arran remaining the second vessel at Islay and the chartered MVAlfred as the second vessel at Arran.[19] On 26 August, Hebridean Isles arrived in Aberdeen for further repairs in dry dock by Dales Marine Services.[15]
On 14 October, she returned to service between Kennacraig and Port Askaig, as part of operational trials.[20] It was subsequently confirmed repairs had been successful and the vessel returned to service.[21]
April 2024, Hebridean Isles at Dales Marine Services, James Watt Dock, Greenock.
Retirement
In August 2024, CalMac announced that Hebridean Isles would be retired from the fleet by 21 November 2024, due to rising maintenance costs and the imminent arrivals of MVIsle of Islay and MVLoch Indaal on the Kennacraig - Islay route.[22] The announcement came just a day after Hebridean Isles was temporarily removed from service due to a bow thruster problem, though CalMac stressed this was not related to the retirement plans.[23] In September 2024, Hebridean Isles moved from the Islay service to Arran, operating alongside MVAlfred. This was to allow Isle of Arran, who had in turn been relieving Caledonian Isles during her prolonged withdrawal from service, to depart for her annual overhaul. Lord of the Isles moved from South Uist to Islay to operate alongside Finlaggan.[24]
Hebridean Isles's final days in operation consisted of providing additional freight capacity between Ullapool and Stornoway alongside MVIsle of Lewis in November 2024, whilst MVLoch Seaforth underwent annual maintenance. Upon Loch Seaforth's return to service, Hebridean Isles was withdrawn from service on 17 November 2024. She departed for Glasgow, arriving the next day at King George V Dock, prior to being taken to a shipbreakers for dismantling. Any spare parts which could be used for maintaining other vessels will be stored in a CalMac warehouse in Gourock.[3]
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.
MV Caledonian Isles, usually referred to locally as Caley 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 its CalMac's busiest route, 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.
MV Clansman is a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, operating from Oban on the west coast of Scotland.
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 Isle of Mull is one of the larger ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Oban on the west of Scotland.
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 Isle of Arran is a drive-through ferry operated on the west coast of Scotland by Caledonian MacBrayne. Also known by her local nicknames IOA and The Auld Trooper, she entered service in 1984 on the Ardrossan to Brodick route, serving Arran 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 for Arran in winter as well as other routes where required. 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.
West Loch Tarbert is a long, narrow sea loch on the western side of the Kintyre Peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, west of Scotland.
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 Finlaggan is a drive-through vehicle and passenger ferry built in Poland for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. From 2011, she has been operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the Islay service from Kennacraig.
MV Muirneag is a ro-ro freight ferry, built in 1979 as MV Mercandian Carrier. From 1986 to 2002, she was named MV Belard, serving initially across the Irish Sea. From 2002 to 2013, she was chartered by Caledonian MacBrayne on the Stornoway to Ullapool freight crossing, until she was replaced by Clipper Ranger.
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 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.
MV Alfred is a catamaran ferry owned by Pentland Ferries, currently on charter to Caledonian MacBrayne for their west coast service.
MV Claymore is a roll-on/roll-off vehicle and passenger ferry currently under construction for use on Caledonian MacBrayne routes on the west coast of Scotland. She is the third of four ferries being built at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, and is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2025. She will operate services on the "Uig Triangle" routes linking Tarbert in Harris and Lochmaddy in North Uist with Uig in Skye.
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