MV Argyll Flyer

MV Argyll Flyer is a passenger ferry in the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet, which along with MV Ali Cat provides a service in Scotland, across the Firth of Clyde from Dunoon to Gourock pierhead and railway station.

MV Argyll Flyer arriving at Gourock, freshly painted in CalMac livery.
History
United Kingdom
Name: MV Argyll Flyer
Owner: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Operator: Caledonian MacBrayne
Port of registry: Glasgow
Route: Dunoon to Gourock
Builder: OCEA, Les Sables-d'Olonne, France
Completed: 2001
Acquired: June 2011
Identification:
Status: in service
General characteristics
Tonnage: 172 gt[2]
Length: 30 m (98 ft 5 in)
Beam: 7 m (23 ft 0 in)
Draft: 2.0 m (6 ft 7 in)
Decks: 2
Installed power: Two MTU 12V 2000 M70[3]
Speed: max. 22 knots (25 mph; 41 km/h)
Capacity: 244 passengers
Crew: 3

History
MV Argyll Flyer approaching Gourock pier in 2011, in Argyll Ferries livery.

She was constructed by OCEA, Les Sables-d'Olonne, France in 2001 for Aran Island Ferries, and under the name Banríon Chonamara (Queen of Connemara) provided a service to the Aran Islands in Ireland. In May 2011 the David MacBrayne Ltd subsidiary Argyll Ferries Ltd was announced as the preferred bidder for the tender for the Dunoon–Gourock service; they bought the ferry which was renamed Argyll Flyer for the new service commencing 30 June 2011. On 15 June she arrived at the Ardmaleish boatyard on the Isle of Bute for survey work.[4]

Layout

Argyll Flyer is a monohull boat of aluminium construction. She has capacity for 244 passengers on two decks with on-board facilities including a wheelchair lift and accessible toilets. There is no booking office at Gourock Ferry Terminal; passengers pay on board.

Service

Argyll Flyer's entry into service was delayed by broken rear prop shafts.[5]

Once the service was in full operation, people from Dunoon were able to return later in the evening from Glasgow than previously thanks to the extended timetable.

At the end of 2018, Transport Scotland made the decision to incorporate the Argyll Ferries service into the existing Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract. The transition took place on 21 January 2019 without any immediate changes to the service,[6] Argyll Flyer had its livery changed to CalMac branding in May 2019.

Argyll Flyer in CalMac livery, approaching Dunoon pier
Departing Gourock for Dunoon

References
  1. "Argyll Flyer". digital-seas.com. June 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  2. "Argyll Flyer". Caledonian MacBrayne. Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. "Banrion Chonamara" (PDF). Roberto Forti, Shipbrokers. June 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 August 2011. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  4. "'New' Dunoon ferry pays visit to Bute - Local Headlines". The Buteman. 16 June 2011. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  5. Goodwin, David (1 July 2011). "Ferry Launch is hit by first-day breakdown". Greenock Telegraph. pp. 1–2.
  6. "CalMac takes over the tiller at Argyll Ferries". Argyll Ferries. 21 January 2019. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
    "Gourock to Dunoon - FAQs". CalMac Ferries. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

Media related to IMO 9231016 at Wikimedia Commons

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