History | |
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Name |
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Namesake | Kyleakin and Largs |
Owner | Caledonian Steam Packet Company |
Port of registry | Glasgow |
Route |
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Builder | Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Troon Engines: Gleniffer Engines Ltd., Glasgow |
Yard number | 510 |
Out of service | 1983 |
Notes | [1] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | turntable ferry |
Tonnage | 64 GT |
Length | 75.7 ft (23.1 m) |
Beam | 21 ft (6.4 m) |
Draught | 6.1 ft (1.9 m) |
Installed power | 2 Oil 4SCSA 4 cyl. 6” x 7” |
Speed | 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) |
Capacity | 100 passengers and 9 cars |
Notes | [1] |
MV Kyleakin was the last turntable ferry, built in 1960 for the Skye crossing. Replaced by larger ferries in 1970, she was converted to bow-loading. As MV Largs, she moved to the Cumbrae Slip crossing where she served until 1976.
MV Kyleakin was built for the increasingly popular Skye crossing. In 1961, the Kyle of Lochalsh slipway was enlarged so that two of the turntable ferries could load there at the same time. [1]
In 1965, Kyleakin was at the centre of demonstrations against the commencement of Sunday sailings. These were initially seasonal but ran all year round from October 1969.
In 1970, she was renamed Kyleakin II, to make way for one of the new 28-car double-ended ferries then under construction.
Kyleakin was built with side ramps and a deck-turntable. She had no passenger lounge. In 1970, she was converted to bow-loading, with a hydraulically operated bow ramp. She lost her side-ramps and deck-turntable. [1]
Kyleakin joined a fleet of small vessels at Skye that struggled to meet increasing demand. In anticipation of the arrival of new ferries, Kyleakin II spent the 1970 summer season at Scalpay with such success that her sister MV Lochalsh (II) became the regular vessel there. [1]
With the arrival at Skye of the new Lochalsh and Kyleakin in 1971, the remaining three side-loaders were surplus to requirement. The converted MV Coruisk (1969) proved so successful on the new Cumbrae Slip crossing that Kyleakin II, renamed Largs was similarly converted to bow-loading and joined her. This deployment continued until 1977 when both were replaced by the new MV Isle of Cumbrae. While Coruisk relieved widely, Largs remained as backup at Largs. [1] She gave her last public sailing at Largs on 26 September 1983 and was subsequently sold to Ardmaleish Boatbuilding Co. Ltd at Port Bannatyne, Bute. In 1987, she left the Clyde for South Yemen, on a cargo-ship. [1]
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 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 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.
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 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 Dunvegan is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited car ferry built for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating in the Kyles of Bute, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.
MV Loch Alainn is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 1997 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. Berthing problems on her intended route at Fishnish meant she began a decade of service at Largs. Since 2007, she has operated across the Sound of Barra.
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 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 Clansman was the second of a trio of hoist-loading car ferries built for David MacBrayne Ltd in 1964 and operated on the Mallaig to Armadale, Skye route for ten years. Converted to ro-ro operation, she operated on the Stornoway, Isle of Mull and Arran services. Underpowered and troubled by mechanical breakdowns, she was taken out of service after 20 years.
MV Maid of Cumbrae was a British passenger ferry operated by Caledonian Steam Packet Company from 1953. In the face of the car ferry revolution, in 1972, she was converted to a 15-car ferry for the Dunoon to Gourock crossing. Sold to Italian owners in 1978, she operated, as Capri Express in the Bay of Naples until 2006, when she was scrapped.
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.
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.
MV Cowal was a hoist-loading vehicle ferry introduced by Caledonian Steam Packet Company in 1954. She spent the whole of her 24 years with Caledonian MacBrayne on the Upper Clyde crossings.
MV Portree was a ferry, built in 1965 for the Skye crossing. In 1970, she was re-built and moved to the Kyles of Bute where she served until 1986.
MV Broadford was a vehicle ferry, built in 1966 for the Skye crossing. Superseded by larger, drive-through vessels, she was re-built and moved to the Kyles of Bute where she served until 1986.
MV Kyleakin is double-ended, drive-through ferry, built in 1970 for the Skye crossing, where she served until 1991. She was renamed MV Carrigaloe for service across the River Lee in County Cork.
MV Lochalsh is a double-ended, drive-through ferry, built in 1970 for the Skye crossing, where she served until 1991. She was renamed MV Glenbrook for service across the River Lee in County Cork.
MV Coruisk was a side-loading vehicle ferry, built in 1969 for the Skye crossing. Superseded by larger, drive-through vessels, she was converted to bow-loading and moved to Largs and later to Scalpay where she served until 1983.
MV Lochalsh was a side-loading turntable ferry, built in 1957 for the Caledonian Steam Packet Company for the Kyle of Lochalsh - Skye crossing. Superseded by larger, drive-through vessels, she was renamed MV Scalpay and moved to Scalpay where she served until 1977.