Some Familiar CalMac Ferries

Whenever we travel to Scotland, invariably we cross to one or other of the Western Islands, be it Arran, Mull, Iona, or the Hebrides, and to reach these places it is inevitable that we will utilise the services of Calednian MacBrayne.

The company has a long and distinguished history. Formed in 1851 as a private shipping company, it became the main carrier for freight and passengers in the Hebrides. In 1973, it was merged with Caledonian Steam Packet Company as the state-owned Caledonian Macbrayne. After lying dormant for a number of years, the company was reactivated in 2006 to act as the holding company for ferry operators CalMac Ferries Ltd (operating as Caledonian MacBrayne) and Northlink Ferries Ltd. In 2011, newly created operator Argyll Ferries Ltd was added to the group.

During the time we have been visiting Scotland we have used a goodly number of CalMac Ferries:-

On Arran:
Ardrossan - Brodick
Lochranza - Claonaig

On Mull:-
Oban - Craignure
Fishnish - Lochaline
Tobermory - Kilchoan (This service no longer operates)

On Iona:
Fionnphort - Iona

Hebrides:
Uig - Tarbet
Leverburgh - Berneray
Lochmaddy - Uig

Originally CalMac operated a Roro (Roll on Roll off) Car Ferry called Isle of Arran which sailed between Ardrossan on the Scottish mainland and Brodick on the Isle of Arran, between 1984 and 1993.

The Isle of Arran Roro Car Ferry

Isle of Arran’s passenger spaces on boat deck level comprise a spacious cafe aft and two forward observation lounges, one of which is provided with a bar and shop. The ship was the first CalMac ferry to have an invalid lift linking the car deck and the passenger lounge. External seating is offered in sheltered galleries and a substantial open upper deck. This is complemented by an open seated area above the lounges, which provides uninterrupted views forward.

By 1993 the demand for more cars and passengers had greatly increased, so she was succeeded by a larger vessel, the Caledonian Isles.

The MV Caledonian Isles

MV Caledonian Isles is one of the largest ships owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. It is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. MV Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route. As it is one of CalMac's busiest routes, Caledonian Isles has the largest passenger capacity in the fleet, and can carry up to 1000 passengers and 110 cars, with a crossing time of 55 minutes. She is used extensively by daytrippers to the Isle of Arran during the summer.

Modelled on the popular MV Isle of Mull of five years earlier, Caledonian Isles incorporates a fully enclosed car deck with watertight ramps at either end. When closed, the bow ramp seals the car deck and when open, forms the bridge between the ship and the linkspan. The car deck incorporates a set of mezzanine decks, one down each side of the central casing and each divided into three sections. These can be moved up and down to their deployed or stowed positions. When deployed, these allow additional cars to be loaded. If the mezzanine decks are fully deployed there is insufficient height to accommodate lorries etc. other than at the bow and stern. The central casing means that she can only carry one lane of commercial vehicles down each side of the car deck.

The passenger accommodation is similar to that onboard the Mull ship. Forward of the main entrance square is the cafeteria, with stairways leading up to the observation lounge and the outside deck. Aft of the entrance there are lounges down either side with toilet blocks, the shop and a bar lounge further towards the stern. The next deck up has the forward observation lounge at the bow and crew accommodation. An open deck extends right around the vessel on this level, including forward of the observation lounge and overlooking the bow. The upper deck has the bridge and outside seating from the huge red funnel towards the stern. Also on this level are the four enclosed lifeboats – 2 larger and 2 smaller boats mounted on davits.