Caledonian MacBrayne - Current Fleet

Unofficial web page (© Iain Murray 2011 - last update 1^st July 2011)

The Caledonian MacBrayne fleet consists of 14 major vessels, 13 double-ended ferries and 2 bow-loading ferries. The fleet is relatively modern (the oldest vessel dates from 1975), and CalMac have more vessels sailing under the British flag than any other company. All vessels in the current fleet were built for Caledonian MacBrayne, mostly in Scotland. The vessels are actually owned by Caledonian Marine Assets Limited (CMAL) and chartered to CalMac; all vessels are registered in Glasgow.

(All photographs are © Iain Murray 2011 - click on the small pictures to see a larger picture; click on the name to view the official CalMac info on the ship)

Major Vessels (newest first)

M.V. Finlaggan (2011)

New Polish-built ship for service on the Kennacraig-Islay route; has been experiencing some teething problems.

M.V. Argyle (2006)

(Almost) identical sister ship of Bute, also for service on the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay route.

M.V. Bute (2005)

Arriving at Rothesay (4th October 2005)

Panorama of the vehicle deck (BIG image)

A new vessel built in Poland for the Wemyss Bay-Rothesay service in 2005 - not much longer than the "streakers", but vastly more car and passenger deck space! She is driven by azimuthing thrusters fore and aft, giving similar manoeuvrability to the older vessels with their VSPs.

M.V. Coruisk (2003)

Most unusual ferry built for the summer Mallaig-Armadale and Clyde relief in winter. A whole lot of ugly in one place.

M.V. Hebrides (2001)

A recent replacement for the Hebridean Isles on the Skye-North Uist/Harris service. She is very similar in appearance to the Clansman.

M.V. Lochnevis (2000)

M.V. Clansman (1998)

This vessel joined the CalMac fleet in 1998, for service on the Oban-Barra-South Uist service.

M.V. Isle of Lewis (1995)

Isle of Lewis is CalMac's largest vessel, and has served the Ullapool-Stornoway service since July 1995. She is the only double-funneled CalMac vessel without an open stern.

M.V. Caledonian Isles (1993)

Caledonian Isles is the largest CalMac vessel on the Clyde, and operates the popular Arran service from Ardrossan to Brodick.

M.V. Isle of Mull (1988)

Isle of Mull was built to serve that island from Oban. A design problem required her to be lengthened by 20' at the end of her first year in service.

M.V. Lord of the Isles (1989)

Lord of the Isles was built for the service from Oban to Coll, Tiree, Barra and South Uist, but now operates the seasonal Mallaig-Armadale (Skye) service. Forward, she is similar in design to Isle of Mull, but has an open stern with a hoist.

M.V. Isle of Arran (1984)

At Port Askaig, Islay (30th April 1999) - pictures by Norman Alm

Isle of Arran was built to serve that island from Ardrossan, but since the arrival of the larger Caledonian Isles in 1993 has been the main vessel on the Islay service. Note the different hull paint levels in the pictures above.

M.V. Hebridean Isles (1985)

Hebridean Isles was built to serve the triangular route between Uig (Skye), Lochmaddy (North Uist) and Tarbert (Harris), and has been closely associated with that route since entering service (though the NorthUist-Harris leg is now operated by the Loch Bhrusda).

M.V. Saturn (1977)

Approaching Dunoon (13th July 1998)

Saturn was built for the service to Bute, and originally bore the legend "ROTHESAY FERRY" on her hull sides. Since 1986, she has rotated duties frequently with the Jupiter and Juno (and more recently, Pioneer) and so appears on the Dunoon service also. She is a quasi-sister to the older Jupiter and Juno, having a slightly different forward hull shape with a strake, different bridge structure (which allows passengers a view forward) and a simpler mainmast, though these changes make her less attractive. Since the withdrawal of the vehicle service on the Gourock-Dunoon route at the end of June 2011, she has been spare, though will probably operate to Arran over the summer of 2011 prior to being withdrawn.

Double-ended Vessels (newest first)

M.V. Loch Shira (2006)

Arriving at Largs (12th October 2007)

The most recent of the "Loch" double-ended ferries, built for the Largs-Cumbrae slip service.

M.V. Loch Portain (2003)

A smaller wholly double-ended version of Coruisk built for the Leverburgh (Harris)-Berneray service.

M.V. Loch Alainn (1997)

Departing Largs (16th July 1998)

Similar to Loch Bhrusda (but with Voith-Schneider propulsion again), this vessel joined the fleet in summer 1997 on the Lochaline-Fishnish service; she was launched as Loch Aline but renamed to Gaelic form as English form already on the shipping register. Due to major propulsion problems after entering service, she was redeployed to the Largs-Cumbrae Slip service in 1998, being replaced at Fishnish by the Loch Fyne, and she is now the main vessel between Eriskay and Barra.

M.V. Loch Bhrusda (1996)

Yet another variation on the Loch-class theme - she has a similar hull form (though with Schottel propulsion rather than Voith-Schneider propulsion as in the earlier vessels) but with a central bridge over the car deck rather similar to Western Ferries' Sound of Sleat. Built for the new service from Otternish (North Uist) to Berneray and Leverburgh (Harris), she broke the "Skye Triangle" meaning that the larger ferry no longer sails direct between North Uist and Harris. Now replaced by the larger Loch Portain, this vessel is now spare.

M.V. Loch Tarbert (1992)

Launching at St. Monans (February 1992)

Loch Tarbert was built for the Cloanaig-Lochranza (Arran) service. Also similar to the older Loch-class vessels, she has passenger accommodation on one side only, allowing a 50% greater vehicle capacity. Consequently she has no windows down her port side, which also sports a funnel.

M.V. Loch Buie (1991)

Departing Iona (6th July 1999)

Loch Buie was built for the Fionnphort-Iona service. Though similar to the older Loch-class vessels, she has less car space (not needed on this service) and more passenger accommodation. The extra passenger accommodation over the car desk makes her the most easily identified of the Loch-class.

M.V. Loch Dunvegan (1991) and M.V. Loch Fyne (1991)

Loch Dunvegan heading up the Clyde past the Cloch lighthouse on a dreich Sunday (12th July 1998)

These vessels were built to replace the ageing Lochalsh and Kyleakin on the short Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin (Skye) service. They were made redundant in 1995 by the opening of the controversial Skye bridge, and spent some time laid up in Greenock awaiting sale. In 1998, they were redeployed to other routes (as had been originally intended), the Loch Fyne to Fishnish-Lochaline and the Loch Dunvegan to Colintraive-Rhubodach.

M.V. Loch Striven (1986), M.V. Loch Linnhe (1986), M.V. Loch Riddon (1986) and M.V. Loch Ranza (1987)

Loch Linnhe departing Largs (May 1990)

Loch Riddon at Rothesay (1988)

Loch Ranza approaching Cloanaig (July 1991)

These double-ended vessels were built to operate on a variety of short crossings, originally on the Firth of Clyde. Loch Riddon and Loch Linnhe are usually on the Largs-Cumbrae Slip service, with Loch Striven now on the Raasay service. Loch Ranza was originally used on the Cloanaig-Lochranza (Arran) service, but is now usually on the Tayinloan-Gigha service.

M.V. Isle of Cumbrae (1977)

Isle of Cumbrae was built to serve that island from Largs, and did so until displaced by the new Loch-class vessels (for which she was the forerunner). In recent years on the Lochaline-Fishnish (Mull) and Colintraive-Rhubodach (Bute) services, she is now the main Portavadie-Tarbert vessel.

Bow-loading Vessels

M.V. Eigg (1975), M.V. Raasay (1976)

These two bow-loading vessels (and their six sisters Kilbrannan, Morvern, Rhum, Coll, Bruernish and Canna, since sold) were built to operate a variety of short crossings throughout the Clyde and Western Isles; each can carry six cars (Kilbrannan and Morvern were similar but slightly smaller). All vessels have been used interchangeably on a variety of routes, but some have become associated with particular services. Morvern was usually on the Iona service until replaced, Coll on the Kilchoan-Tobermory (Mull) service, Eigg has been closely tied to the Oban-Lismore service and Raasay has been closely tied to her namesake island (until replaced). Canna was usually on the Lochaline-Fishnish (Mull) service until replaced and moved to the Scalpay service (now replaced by a bridge), while Rhum was used mainly on the Cloanaig-Lochranza (Arran) service until replaced; then she operated the Portavadie-Tarbert service. Eigg still maintains the Oban-Lismore service, with Rasaay as spare vessel.

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