CalMac flagship ferry Loch Seaforth approaching
Ullapool after a crossing from Stornoway. Argyll, at Wemyss Bay, shares runs to Rothesay with
her sister Bute. Isle of Arran approaching
Campbeltown.28 • Summer 2018 • http://www.shipsmonthly.com
CALEDONIAN
MACBRAYNE
By far the UK’s largest ferry
operation, both in fl eet size and
number of routes, Caledonian
MacBrayne currently has a fl eet of
31 vessels serving 51 ports on 48
different routes. Operations suffered
disruption due to bad weather in
the spring, and refi t delays also hit
vessels, including the Oban-based
Clansman, with engine parts having
to be sent to Denmark for attention.
Two expected newbuildings willnot enter service until 2019 with the
company warning at the end of April
of possible summer 2018 disruption
due to an ageing fl eet. New Arran
vessel Glen Sannox is now due in early
2019 leaving the Ardrossan-Brodick
route in the hands of Caledonian
Isles, with support from veteran Isle
of Arran, which also sails Ardrossan-
Brodick-Campbeltown three times
a week. The second newbuild from
Ferguson Marine at Port Glasgow will
take over the routes from Uig, Skye to
Lochmaddy, North Uist, and Tarbert,
Harris, later in 2019, and in the longer
term there are also plans for a newvessel to serve Islay.
During 2017 CalMac carried more
than fi ve million passengers, nearly
1.5 million cars, 80,000 coaches and
just under a million lane-metres of
freight, with its subsidy from the
Scottish Government rising from
£22.6 million to £8.3 million. The
summer will again bring key roles for
the two-ship Clyde service between
Wemyss Bay and Rothesay on the
Isle of Bute. In the Hebrides, Coll
and Tiree, together with Colonsay,
Port Askaig and Kennacraig, will be
served from Oban, which also hosts
the service to Craignure on the Isle ofMull. Mallaig remains another focal
point, with services to Armadale, Skye;
to Lochboisdale in South Uist; and the
Small Islands circuit taking in Canna,
Eigg, Muck and Rum.
The current fl eet ranges in size
from the 8,680gt Loch Seaforth on the
Ullapool-Lochboisdale run to the 11gt
Carvoria, which carries one car and up
to 12 passengers between Gallanach,
south of Oban, and Kerra, a route
taken over by Caledonian Marine
Assets in 2017, when the vessel was
built in Shetland at the Malakoff Yard
for Cal Mac operation.- 01475 650100, http://www.calmac.com
CLYDE AND HEBRIDES
CALMAC FLEET 2018
NAME YEAR GT
Argyll 2007 2,642
Bute 2005 2,612
Caledonian Isles 1993 5,221
Carvoria 2017 11
Catriona 2016 499
Clansman 1998 5,499
Coruisk 2003 1,599
Finlaggan 2011 5,626
Hallaig 2012 499
Hebridean Isles 1985 3,040
Hebrides 2000 5,506
Isle of Arran 1984 3,296
Isle of Cumbrae 1976 169
Isle of Lewis 1995 6,735
Isle of Mull 1988 4,719
Loch Alainn 1997 396
Loch Bhrusda 1996 246
Loch Buie 1992 295
Loch Dunvegan 1991 549
Loch Fyne 1991 549
Loch Linnhe 1986 206
Loch Portain 2003 950
Loch Ranza 1987 206
Loch Riddon 19086 206
Loch Seaforth 2014 8.680
Loch Shira 2007 1,024
Loch Striven 1986 206
Loch Tarbet 1992 211
Lochinvar 2014 523
Loch Nevis 2000 941
Lord of the Isles 1989 3,504gt