MV Lochnevis (1934)

MV Lochnevis was a MacBrayne mail steamer, built in 1934 for the West Highland service. She was withdrawn in 1969, sold to Dutch owners in 1970 and scrapped in 1974.

History
United Kingdom
Name: MV Lochnevis
Namesake: Loch Nevis
Owner: David MacBrayne Ltd
Route: Portree mail steamer from Mallaig
Builder: William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton[1]
Cost: £45,999
Yard number: 1273
Launched: 15 May 1934
In service: 1934
Out of service: 1969
Homeport: Glasgow
Fate: Sold for scrap, 1974
General characteristics
Class and type: Passenger ferry
Tonnage: 573 GRT; 217 NT; 115 DWT
Length: 178.5 ft (54.4 m)
Beam: 31.1 ft (9.5 m)
Draught: 7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Installed power: 2 x Paxman oil engines, powering 2 electric motors each 525shp
Speed: 15 kn (service)
Capacity: 700 passengers
For the 2000 Small Isles ferry, see MV Lochnevis.

History

Lochnevis was built by William Denny and Brothers for David MacBrayne Ltd as the Portree mail steamer. As Mail steamers were superseded by car ferries, Lochnevis served as an excursion steamer from Oban. She was sold in 1970 and finally scrapped in 1974.

Layout

Lochnevis was a two class vessel, designed for shorter voyages. Her passenger accommodation consisted of lounges, dining rooms, smoke rooms and plenty of covered deck space, but no overnight accommodation.[2]

Lochnevis was fitted with two 6-cylinder Paxman MY monobloc engines (a marine version of the 13" x 16" VY engine), each rated 650 bhp at 500 rpm. These powered two shunt motors, each with an output of 525 shaft horsepower at 400 rpm and directly connected to a propeller.[3] The engine's spring mounted box girder bedplate was designed to minimise vibration. The electrical machinery was manufactured and supplied by the General Electric Company.[3] She was re-engined in 1957 by Mirlees National Gas & Oil, Ashton-under-Lyne with 4SA 6-cylinder engines.[2]

Service

Lochnevis was built for the Mallaig - Kyle - Portree route, then the principal access to the Isle of Skye. From 1935, she also gave popular cruises to Gairloch, Loch Torridon and Loch Scavaig.[4] During World War II, she served as a minelayer.[5] The Portree mail service was being superseded by the short car ferry crossing at Kyle. In 1958, Lochnevis was replaced by a smaller vessel and moved to Oban, where she served as an excursion steamer in summer and relief mail steamer in winter.[6]

Withdrawn from service in 1969, she was sold to Dutch owners, but did not return to service and was scrapped in 1974.[4]

Footnotes
  1. "MV Lochnevis". Clydesite: Shipping Times. Archived from the original on 2 September 2004. Retrieved 28 May 2011.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "The Fleet - Lochnevis". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  3. "Diesel-Electric Marine Propulsion". Richard Carr's Paxman History. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  4. "History - Lochnevis". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  5. "MV Lochnevis". Am Baile. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  6. Neil F King. "MV Lochnevis". Flickr. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
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