MV Hebridean Isles

MV Hebridean Isles ("Heb Isles" a nickname used amongst crew and passengers alike) was constructed at Cochrane’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.[2]

Broadly similar to the MV Isle of Arran she was designed to be suitable for use anywhere within the network, although intended for the Uig triangle. Following her delivery voyage, she conducted trials at various ports around the network and 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. The new ferry found temporary employment as a winter relief vessel at Ullapool and Oban, where she stood in for the MV Caledonia and MV Glen 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 long pier was finished.[1]

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 turn-round times.[3]

MV Hebridean Isles' design incorporates 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 can accommodate almost 70 cars, with passenger accommodation on two decks forward of the hoist. One deck comprises 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 is the observation lounge with crew accommodation forward of this. The bridge is on the next level at the bow. Externally there is ample deck space including, like the Isle of Arran, a deck area forward of the bridge, giving passengers a view ahead.[1]

MV Hebridean Isles spent her first 15 years almost exclusively on her intended crossing of the Little Minch. She sailed from Uig on Skye to Tarbert and Lochmaddy, using her stern ramp at Uig and her bow visor and ramp at both Tarbert and Lochmaddy. There were no Sunday sailings to Harris. After 15 years demand became too much and in 2001 she was replaced by the new MV Hebrides.[1] Hebridean Isles headed south as the dedicated Islay ferry, taking over from MV Isle of Arran. Operating out of Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula, she sailed to Port Ellen and Port Askaig. On summer Wednesdays she continued to Colonsay and Oban, returning to Kennacraig in the evening. Between 2003 and 2011, she was joined by Isle of Arran in the summer, to provide a series of additional sailings throughout the week and to maintain the service on Wednesdays during the Oban extension.[3]

For six months from October 2002, she was chartered to Northlink Ferries and inaugurated their Stromness to Scrabster service. She continues to relieve there each winter.[3]

During June and July 2010, Hebridean Isles was redeployed on the Oban to Coll and Tiree run, replacing MV Clansman, 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 repair and resumed the Coll and Tiree run two days after the incident.

In summer 2011, MV Finlaggan joined Hebridean Isles as the main Islay vessel, meanwhile Isle of Arran became a spare vessel.[4]

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 MS Clipper Ranger colliding with the pier at Stornoway.

Hebridean Isles relieved on the Uig Triangle, alongside MV Isle of Arran, in January and February 2016 whilst MV Hebrides was away covering for other vessels.[5] In July 2016, she collided with the pier at Kennacraig, with her traffic being carried by the MV Finlaggan and the cargo boat MV Red Princess.

In October 2016, Hebridean Isles provided a twice-nightly freight service on the Ullapool - Stornoway route whilst MV Loch Seaforth was in dry-dock.

From 3 January to 21 January 2017, Hebridean Isles relieved on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry crossing alongside MV Isle of Arran in place of MV Caledonian Isles, which was away for her annual overhaul. She repeated this service in January 2018, 2019 and 2020.

During April and May 2018, Hebridean Isles operated an Oban-Lochboisdale service, whilst MV Lord of the Isles was away from the Mallaig-Lochboisdale route, covering for MV Clansman's repair at James Watt Dock in Greenock.[6]

In September 2018, Hebridean Isles relieved on the Ardrossan-Brodick crossing in place of MV Isle of Arran. During this time, Isle of Arran was out of service owing to issues with her propeller shaft, and MV Caledonian Isles had sustained damage to her loading ramps whilst carrying an overweight vehicle. Hebridean Isles provided additional cover on the Ardrossan-Brodick ferry crossing, in addition to her first ever sailing to Campbeltown , with Caledonian Isles operating with a reduced capacity.[7] Additionally, MV Loch Linnhe provided additional sailings on the Claonaig to Lochranza crossing to help ease congestion.[8]

After relieving at Arran in January 2019, Hebridean Isles returned to Arran in March 2019 to cover for the MV Caledonian Isles, which had rammed the pier at Brodick and sustained damage to her bow visor as a result of her bow thrusters failing.[9]

• Caledonian MacBrayne fleet

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hebridean Isles (ship, 1985).

• MV Hebridean Isles on www.calmac.co.uk