PAST FLEET MOVEMENTS
Main Fleet Features Past Fleet Movements (Outlined)
An Outlined History of CalMac's Ships, where the they were and when... For a in-depth history of the company and Clyde steamers click here.
DATE	EVENT
1970
January	Arran takes over Islay and Gigha run. Lochiel is therefore put on sales list. Lochard and spare boat Lochbroom are sold also.
May	Iona enters service on Gourock – Dunoon route (built for MacBraynes but goes on charter to CSP. Clansman is transferred back to Mallaig for the new summer season (Clansman had come from Mallaig to Gourock late in the previous year).
	Lochalsh and Kyleakin take over on Kyle – Kyleakin route, replacing the five bow loaders to other routes (see table).
	Caledonia takes over Arran route (becomes Ardrossan – Brodick and so calls to Fairlie cease). Glen Sannox transfers to the Wemyss Bay – Rothesay service, and Bute becomes second Dunoon ship.
	Cowal inaugurates Largs – Fairlie – Millport (Keppel Pier) – Brodick – Tarbert service (replacing the Fairlie – Millport – Brodick service)
	Iona goes to Greenock for a refit in preparation for her return to MacBraynes. Glen Sannox takes over on the Gourock – Dunoon route, and Bute goes back to being Rothesay vessel.
1971
April	Arran sails to Port Askaig as well as Port Ellen and Gigha.
	Cowal stops Fairlie – Tarbert etc service and returns to Rothesay as second vessel.
1972
February	Craigendoran – Dunoon / Rothesay services stop and the pier is closed. Maid of Ashton can afford to be laid up. Maid of Cumbrae is sent to Greenock for conversion to a car ferry.
April	Clansman is sent to Troon for conversion to ro-ro. Columba takes over at Mallaig and so Iona operates the Oban – Craignure route Glen Sannox returns to the Gourock – Dunoon service.
May	Iona transfers to Stornoway (after returning from refurbishment) replacing Loch Seaforth (the route now becomes Ullapool – Stornoway), and Loch Seaforth moves to Oban – Outer Isles route. Claymore is laid up. Bute takes over on Craignure run allowing Columba to become Mallaig ferry.
	Kilbrannan inaugurates Lochranza – Claonaig service ready for the summer.
	Maid of Cumbrae returns from conversion to become second Dunoon vessel.
October	Columba returns to Mull route for the winter. Bute can therefore go back to the Rothesay service
	Duchess of Hamilton is sold off at close of season
1973
March	Maid of Skelmorlie is taken out of service and sold.
April	Morvern starts Lochaline – Fishnish route.
June	Bruernish takes over from Morvern, the latter inaugurates Iona – Fionnphort route.
	Rhum takes over on Lochranza – Claonaig service, and Kilbrannan becomes relief ship at Largs.
	Clansman takes over the Ullapool – Stornoway service, allowing Iona to become Mull ferry. Columba returns to Mallaig (but is relief vessel in winter).
August	Waverley is sold to preservation society for £1!  Queen Mary II changes sailings to combine both rosters (Gourock – Tarbert / Brodick (via Kyles of Bute) / Inveraray / Millport / Ardrishaig)
	Loch Seaforth adds Colonsay to its itinery, but sinks at Tiree. Claymore brought back into service as a replacement, with assistance in carrying cars to Tiree from Lochdunvegan which is also brought back into service.
November	Coll relieves Loch Arkaig on Small Isles run etc for a month whilst it goes for an overhaul.
	Jupiter takes over as Gourock – Dunoon ferry. Glen Sannox becomes Rothesay relief vessel.
December	Loch Arkaig returns allowing Coll to replace Bruernish on Lochaline – Fishnish route. Bruernish takes on Oban – Lismore service, replacing Loch Toscaig which is sold off.
1974
April	Glen Sannox displaces Iona on Oban – Craignure run. Iona starts sailing from Oban – Barra and S. Uist, whilst Claymore continues to serve Coll, Tiree and Colonsay. Columba stops sailing to the outer Isles from Mallaig and concentrates on Armadale route.
	Maid of Argyll is laid up then sold.
August	Pioneer takes over Islay service. Arran retained as spare vessel.
	Suilven commissioned on Stornoway route. Clansman becomes relief vessel over winter.
September	Iona is able to serve all of the outer Isles, and so Claymore is withdrawn.
December	Juno joins Jupiter on Gourock – Dunoon route. Maid of Cumbrae becomes spare.
1975
February	Eigg starts service from Portree to Raasay allowing Loch Arkaig to concentrate on the Small Isles run.
March	Clansman takes over on Oban – Craignure route, displacing Glen Sannox to Rothesay, which in turn replaced Bute. Bute then goes to Troon for hoist adjustments.
May	Bute returns to become Mallaig – Armadale ferry (returns to Clyde in winter). Columba is sent to Oban to replace King George V as Mull and Iona excursion steamer.
1976
January	Canna takes over from Eigg as Raasay ferry. Eigg becomes Oban – Lismore ferry replacing Bruernish, which goes on charter from Kyleakin to Loch Kishorn Oil Platform.
May	Clansman and Caledonia swap places ready for the summer season due to capacity reasons.
July	Raasay replaces Canna on Raasay service (mainland terminal changes to Sconser). Canna becomes relief vessel on Fishnish – Lochaline route alongside the main ferry Coll.
August	Canna becomes main Fishnish – Lochaline ferry and Coll becomes the company’s relief vessel.
October	It is decided that Clansman should stay on the Arran service all year round, and that Caledonia will operate the Mull route in summer (spare vessel in winter). Glen Sannox will operate the route in winter (returning to join Cowal on the Wemyss Bay – Rothesay run in summer. This method of operation is to be maintained over the next few years).
November	Loch Carron withdrawn and put on the sales list.
1977
April	Isle of Cumbrae takes over as new Largs – Cumbrae Slip ferry. Largs and Coruisk are kept as spare, and Kilbrannan replaces Scalpay on the Scalpay service. The latter is sold. At the same time, Bruernish returns from charter, and becomes a spare vessel.
September	Queen Mary II is laid up at the end of the summer season.
	Cowal is sold out of the fleet. A relief vessel (e.g. Arran) operates Rothesay route whilst Glen Sannox is at Mull.
1978
February	Saturn takes over as new Rothesay ferry. Glen Sannox becomes a cruise vessel in summer (sailing to the same places as Queen Mary II had done), but remained as Mull ferry in the winter.
	Maid of Cumbrae is sold.
May	Mainland terminal for Islay service changes to Kennacraig where there is deeper water.
1979
February	Claymore is commissioned on Oban – Outer Isles run, allowing Iona to become Islay ferry. Pioneer travels to her homeport in Leith to her Shipbuilders to have a hoist fitted.
	Bruernish starts a new service from Kennacraig to Gigha.
March	The mainland terminal for the Gigha service changes to Tayinloan.
May	Pioneer returns as Mallaig – Armadale ferry. Bute is sold off, as is the spare vessel Arran.
July	Lochmor takes up Mallaig – Small Isles run replacing Loch Arkaig, which had just sunk at Mallaig.
1980
May	Applecross transfers from Kyle to become Tobermory – Mingary ferry, replacing Lochnell which is sold off.
1983
August	Isle of Arran takes over as Ardrossan – Brodick ferry replacing Clansman which is sold off.
1985
November	Hebridean Isles takes over Uig Triangle. Hebrides is sold off. Hebridean Isles provides a basic service over winter whilst slipways are completed.
1986
March	Hebridean Isles is able to start a full service ready for the summer season on the Uig Triangle.
July	Loch Striven commissioned on Largs – Cumbrae route in July (sharing service with Isle of Cumbrae)
August	Loch Linnhe takes up Lochaline – Fishnish route replacing Canna, which becomes a spare vessel.
	Coll takes over as first vehicle ferry on the seasonal Tobermory – Mingary route (spare in winter) and Applecross is sold off.
September	Loch Linnhe and Isle of Cumbrae swap places. Coruisk is sold, and Keppel begins a Clyde cruising programme
October	Loch Riddon takes up service on Colintraive – Rhubodach service, and so Portree and Broadford are sold off.
1987
April	Loch Ranza replaces Rhum on the Lochranza route. Rhum becomes another spare vessel.
September	New vessel ordered for Mull route, and so Caledonia can be withdrawn since Glen Sannox will be operating the route over winter.
1988
April	Isle of Mull takes over as all year round Mull ferry, and so Glen Sannox becomes winter relief vessel as well as being a cruise vessel in summer.
	Canna becomes back up vessel to help Morvern at Iona.
1989
February	Pioneer begins sailing to Outer Isles as well as Armadale from Mallaig.
March	Lord of the Isles launched as Oban - Outer Isles ferry. Claymore becomes Islay ferry (sails from Port Askaig – Colonsay – Oban on Wednesdays) and Iona is sent to Troon to have hoist adjustments.
May	Iona returns as Mallaig – Armadale / Outer Isles ferry, and Pioneer is sent to her homeport in Leith to have her hoist replaced by side ramps.
October	Pioneer returns as full time Clyde relief ship. Glen Sannox had performed this role in winter, and so was put on the sales list.
1990
May	Rhum replaces Canna as back up vessel at Iona. The latter then replaces Kilbrannan on the Scalpay service. Kilbrannan then becomes spare vessel.
1991
May	Loch Dunvegan replaces Lochalsh on Kyle – Kyleakin crossing.
August	Loch Fyne joins her sister, and so Kyleakin is also sold.
	Kilbrannan goes on charter to an Irish ferry company.
October	Kilbrannan returns as spare vessel.
1992
June	Loch Buie enters service on the Iona crossing, replacing Morvern which took the place of Kilbrannan as spare vessel. Kilbrannan is sold off.
	Rhum also become spare.
July	Loch Tarbert introduced on Lochranza – Claonaig route, replacing Loch Ranza, which takes over at Gigha. Bruernish becomes spare.
	Rhum is laid up with the intention of being sold (but is still used as a spare vessel).
	Coll and Tiree have linkspans installed.
December	Keppel withdrawn from cruising and sold off – to the Greeks!
1993
June	On two days a week, one of the upper Clyde vessels (e.g. Jupiter, Juno) operates a cruise to Tighnabruaich at mid-day when it is quiet. (the cruises only operate in summer).
August	Caledonian Isles is commissioned as Arran ferry. Isle of Arran becomes summer Islay ferry and relief ship in winter.
October	Claymore takes over the Islay run for the winter. Isle of Arran is to take over again in the spring (the arrangement involves Claymore working the route every winter and becoming spare in summer when Isle of Arran operates it).
1994
May	Pioneer inaugurates a seasonal twice weekly service from Rothesay to Brodick in between other operations.
	Claymore starts a seasonal service at the weekend between Ardrossan and Douglas (remains spare during the week and operates Islay route in the winter).
July	Tarbert is introduced as another destination for cruises performed by one of the upper Clyde ferries in the summer.
	Rhum inaugurates Tarbert – Portavadie service.
1995
July	Isle of Lewis replaces Suilven on the Stornoway crossing, and she is sold to New Zealand.
October	Loch Fyne and Loch Dunvegan are laid up in Greenock on the completion of the Skye Bridge. They were later never sold out of the fleet even though a few buyer looked at them.
1996
March	Loch Bhrusda inaugurates the Otternish – Leverburgh route. Allowing the Uig Triangle to become two sailings from Uig to Tarbert and Lochmaddy).
December	Bruernish goes on charter to Ballycastle – Rathlin Island service in Northern Island.
1997
April	Bruernish returns to take over Tarbert – Portavadie route, displacing Rhum to Scalpay. This allows Canna to travel to Ballycastle to operate the Rathlin Island route under the Calmac name.
May	Claymore is sold out of the fleet, and seasonal Ardrossan – Douglas service is ceased.
July	Loch Alainn takes over as Fishnish ferry, allowing Isle of Cumbrae to take over the Colintraive – Rhubodach service from Loch Riddon, which moved to partner Loch Linnhe at Largs. This freed Loch Striven to become Sconser – Raasay ferry, replacing Raasay which became spare vessel at Oban.
August	Claymore is chartered back to operate Islay route over winter (returns to owner in May).
	Loch Alainn suffers a serious breakdown, and so Loch Dunvegan is reactivated to stand in. She too suffers a problem after a few days, and so her sister Loch Fyne takes over. The latter remains on the route on a permanent basis after that.
1998
March	Iona sold out of the fleet as it is thought she will not fully pass her next safety examination.
April	Isle of Lewis suffers a breakdown, and so Isle of Mull is called up to cover for a week while it is repaired. Iona is chartered back from its new owner to cover on the Mull service with a little help from the Pioneer.
May	Pioneer is called up to stand in on the Mallaig – Armadale / Outer Isles route when it opens for the summer season. The Rothesay – Brodick service is maintained by the JUNO due to her Safety Class certificate.
	Eigg and Coll swap places.
July	Clansman arrives to take over Oban – Outer Isles route. This allows Lord of the Isles to take over the Mallaig services, and so Pioneer can return to the Clyde.
October	Loch Alainn returns to service on Largs – Cumbrae route, as a partner to Loch Riddon. Loch Linnhe is therefore able to take over on Tarbert – Portavadie route. This allows Bruernish to become Lismore ferry and Coll, along with Rhum are sold off.
	Isle of Arran becomes year round Islay ferry.
1999
March	Loch Dunvegan becomes Colintraive – Rhubodach ferry, allowing Isle of Cumbrae to transfer to the Tarbert – Portavadie service. This displaces Loch Linnhe to Tobermory allowing Eigg to go to Garvel Dry-dock to have her wheelhouse extended.
April	Eigg returns as Lismore ferry to replace Bruernish, which becomes spare vessel for the Clyde. Raasay remains as spare vessel at Oban.
	The service from Rothesay to Brodick is ceased allowing Pioneer to concentrate on her? upper Clyde duties.
2000
May	Lochnevis replaces Lochmor on the Mallaig – Small Isles run, and so Lochmor is sold out of the fleet to Irish owners, later to new owners in Brixham.
2001
March	Hebrides takes over on Uig Triangle, and Hebridean Isles is transferred to the Islay run. This allows Isle of Arran to become a spare vessel. She now operates as freight vessel for the popular traffic on the Ullapool run.
2002 - 2003	Later to be added, See the FLEET NEWS for more current movements.
*Compiled by Adam Hiles*

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