Name MV Loch Fyne Port of registry Glasgow Launched 12 June 1991 Builder Ferguson Shipbuilders | Operator Caledonian MacBrayne Yard number 602 Draft 1.6 m | |
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Owner Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited Route 1991-1995 Kyle of Lochalsh - Kyleakin.
1997-2017 Lochaline - Fishnish
From 31 March 2017 Mallaig - Armadale | ||
Mv loch fyne
MV Loch Fyne is a Caledonian MacBrayne car ferry, owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, built in 1991 for the Isle of Skye crossing and now currently operating on the Lochaline to Fishnish route across the Sound of Mull in western Scotland.
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Lochaline mv loch fyne the sound of mull
History
Loch Fyne entered service at Kyle of Lochalsh on 12 September 1991, replacing the last of the old ferries, MV Kyleakin. Even at this time, it was known that the Skye Bridge was coming. On 16 October 1995, Loch Fyne and MV Loch Dunvegan, dressed with flags, gave the last ever car ferry runs across this narrow stretch of water. ' Loch Fyne was laid up in James Watt Dock at Greenock for two years. No sale was completed and in 1997, CalMac prepared them for service once more. First, MV Loch Dunvegan was moved to the Colintraive - Rhubodach service. Then, on 27 September 1997, Loch Fyne was re-introduced to service and went to relieve the new MV Loch Alainn, which had suffered a major breakdown at Lochaline on the Sound of Mull. Loch Fyne proved successful and became the permanent vessel on Mull's secondary crossing, having sufficient capacity to cope with all but the busiest days there. There was an earlier 1950s MacBrayne's motor vessel of the same name, which was last seen as an accommodation ship in Bristol Floating Harbour in the 2000s.
Layout
Loch Fyne is a twin sister to MV Loch Dunvegan, both built for the Skye route. 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 high sided design is prone to being caught by the wind. She initially had very wide ramps at both ends. These were first lengthened, to reduce the risk of long vehicles grounding, and later reduced in width and weight.
Service
Loch Fyne and MV Loch Dunvegan provided a 24-hour service between Kyle of Lochalsh and Kyleakin on Skye until 1995. Since 1997, Loch Fyne has been the regular vessel on the Lochaline to Fishnish route. She has also previously sailed between Mallaig and Armadale, relieving MV Coruisk.
In November 2016, Loch Fyne carried out further berthing trials on the Mallaig to Armadale route, causing rumours suggesting she was going to take over from MV Lochinvar in the future, but these trials concluded that major modifications would be needed to the vessel and linkspans at both ports. However, in January 2017, CalMac announced that they were going to go ahead with these modifications; Loch Fyne will become the primary vessel on the Mallaig to Armadale route from 31 March 2017, with MV Lord of the Isles carrying out further sailings in between her own roster to Lochboisdale.