Name MV Hebridean Isles Launched 4 July 1985 | Maiden voyage 5 December 1985 Length 85 m | |
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Builder Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd., Selby | ||
Mv hebridean isles
MV Hebridean Isles is a ro-ro vehicle ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited 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.
Contents
Mv hebridean isles arrives in oban
History
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 - HRH the Duchess of Kent.
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.
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.
Layout
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.
Service
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. 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.
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.
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 the summer 2011, MV Finlaggan joined Hebridean Isles as the main Islay vessel, meanwhile Isle of Arran became a spare vessel.
On January 28, 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. 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 3rd January to 21st January 2017, Hebridean Isles relieved on the Ardrossan-Brodick route alongside MV Isle of Arran in place of MV Caledonian Isles, which was away for her annual overhaul.