MV Loch Dunvegan

MV Loch Dunvegan (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Dunbheagan) is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited car ferry built for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating in the Kyles of Bute, Scotland. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Berthed at Rhubodach slip, May 2019.
History
United Kingdom
Name:
Namesake: A sea loch on the north east of Skye
Owner: Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Operator: Caledonian MacBrayne
Port of registry: Glasgow
Route:
Builder: Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow
Yard number: 601
Launched: 15 March 1991
In service: 13 May 1991
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Tonnage:
Length: 54.2 m (177 ft 10 in); 73.8 m (242 ft 2 in) overall[1]
Beam: 13.4 m (44 ft 0 in)[1]
Draught: 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Installed power: 2 × TAMD 162 4SCSA oil engines, 334 kW (448 bhp) each
Propulsion: Voith Schneider propulsion units
Speed: 9 kn (17 km/h)
Capacity: 200 passengers and 36 cars
Crew: 4
Notes: [2][3][4]

History

Loch Dunvegan entered service at Kyle of Lochalsh on 13 May 1991, displacing MV Lochalsh. Even at this time, it was known that the Skye Bridge was coming. On 16 October 1995, Loch Dunvegan and Loch Fyne, dressed with flags, gave the last ever car ferry runs across this narrow stretch of water. Loch Dunvegan was laid up in James Watt Dock at Greenock for two years. No sale was completed and in 1997, CalMac prepared the vessels for service once more. In August, Loch Dunvegan went to relieve the new MV Loch Alainn, which had suffered a major breakdown at Lochaline on the Sound of Mull. Breaking down herself, she was relieved on 27 September 1997 by Loch Fyne, which went on to become the permanent vessel on Mull's secondary crossing.[3] Since 1999, Loch Dunvegan has been the main vessel on the five-minute run from Colintraive to Rhubodach.

Layout

Loch Dunvegan and her twin sister, MV Loch Fyne, both built for the Skye route, were loosely based on the earlier MV Loch Striven. Passenger accommodation along the starboard side of the hull can cater for up to 250 persons, with lounges on two levels and an open deck above. The car deck has four lanes and can take 36 cars.[3] The high sided design is prone to being caught by the wind. She initially had very wide ramps at both ends. Initially lengthened to reduce the risk of long vehicles grounding, these have been replaced by narrower and lighter ramps.[3]

Service

Loch Dunvegan and MV Loch Fyne provided a 24-hour service between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin on Skye until 1995. Two years layup followed, after which Loch Dunvegan was employed on relief duties, seeing service at Mallaig, Fishnish (relieving her sister) and providing a passenger-only service on the Wemyss Bay - Rothesay route.[3] In July 1998, she provided an emergency service between Portavadie and Tarbert while the main Kintyre road was closed due to a landslide.[4]

In early 1999, Loch Dunvegan took over from MV Isle of Cumbrae on the secondary Bute crossing, from Colintraive to Rhubodach.[3] Due to her size relative to the short crossing she normally sails with both ramps unfolded.[5]

References
  1. "9006409". Miramar Ship Index.
  2. "MV Loch Dunvegan". CalMac. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  3. "Ships of the fleet > Loch Dunvegan (II)". www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk. Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  4. "Loch Dunvegan". Clydebuilt Database. Archived from the original on 7 November 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2009.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. Caledonian MacBrayne: Ferries of the Clyde, Highlands and Islands. Ships Illustrated. Special Issue No. 11. ISBN 978-1-910554-17-3. p. 39.
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