 FLEET
HISTORIES
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The Fleet
Eigg
History
EIGG was launched some time after the previous Island Class ship; COLL. The
fifth of this type of ferry entered service in 1975 having run trials on the
Clyde and been accepted into the fleet.
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Her first duty was to assume control of the Portree – Raasay service,
previously carried out by the LOCH ARKAIG when not on Small Isles duties.
The crossing was a fairly long one for a slow ship such as the EIGG and it was
clear that Portree would not remain the Skye terminal. Although EIGG brought
vehicle-carrying capability to the route, at first there was no slipway on
Raasay and she had to berth at the main pier. Once the slipway was constructed
adjacent to the pier, vehicles could be brought over six at a time, although on
occasion it was known for the EIGG and indeed the other five of the larger batch
of Island Class ships to squeeze eight cars onto their little car decks.
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EIGG Unloading at Lismore Slipway
well into her Career
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EIGG served the people of Raasay for just under a year until January 1976 when
she was replaced by the seventh sister; CANNA. Upon displacement from Raasay the
EIGG was transferred to Oban where the MORVERN and then the BRUERNISH had been
keeping a new route open for her. January 1976 saw the beginnings of a long
association between the EIGG and the island of Lismore in Loch Linnhe. The 50
minute sailing saw the EIGG leaving from the slipway at Oban, adjacent to the
linkspan, passing round the northern end of Kerrera and north to Achnacroish on
the small island.
For over 20 years the Eigg would remain on the Lismore crossing, providing
anywhere between 2 and 4 or 5 return sailings depending on the time of year and
day of the week. As Lismore was not a tourist island like Mull or Iona, the
capacity of 6 cars and up to 164 passengers was rarely achieved. The EIGG made
her association to the island known to all when the top of her wheelhouse was
adorned with a sign denoting that she was indeed the ‘Lismore Ferry’. Apart
from annual overhauls when she would be relieved by one of the spare sisters
such as RHUM or COLL, the EIGG remained the dedicated ferry for Lismore and
seldom deviated form the route.
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EIGG Seen off Tobermory in 1997
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Things
did not change until the mid 1990s when a switch was made. The EIGG was moved in
1996 from Oban to Tobermory where she became the dedicated Kilchoan ferry on the
35 minute crossing from Mull. The previous vessel COLL took her place initially
at Oban. During the high season she was assisted by her older sister BRUERNISH
and a two-ship service was provided at peak periods due to the increasing
popularity on the scenic but isolated route.
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EIGG spent the next three summers employed on the Tobermory – Kilchoan
crossing but she also saw service to and from Mallaig and the Small Isles. She
was equipped with the necessary equipment to grant her a IIA passenger
certificate and so when required, EIGG would leave Tobermory for the journey
round Ardnamurchan and up to Mallaig. Her main duties at Mallaig would be
livestock runs to and from the Small Isles. Her place at Tobermory would be
taken by BRUERNISH or COLL.
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EIGG Back on Her Original Route
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1998 was the EIGG’s last season at her Tobermory base. She was once again
transferred to Oban for the 1999 season, and had survived the latest round of
Island Class redundancies (the unlucky ones being COLL and RHUM). Her ‘new’
role was actually a return to the old days and she once again became the
dedicated Lismore vessel. Her wheelhouse had been raised one level so as to
enable her master to see over the wagons that would previously have obstructed
his view. With this addition in height, EIGG became by far the most easily
identifiably Island Class ship. Her colour scheme was also altered in the same
overhaul, and her hull was now black, the paint having been brought up to the
height of her bulwarks. This was the new livery for these little ferries and it
brought them into line with the rest of the fleet in that the company name was
now white on black.
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EIGG has remained the main ferry for Lismore since 1999, although she does still
maintain her Class IIA certificate and so can be seen from time to time
providing extra sailings to Craignure as required. She is relieved usually in
the early part of the year by BRUERNISH or RAASAY when she goes away for
slipping, usually at Corpach.
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EIGG Returning to Oban
From a Relief
Run to Craignure
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Until recently it had been assumed that EIGG would remain the main Lismore ferry
for the foreseeable future, however in a recent announcement from CalMac it was
revealed that Lismore is to receive a larger ferry in the shape of one of the
current Cumbrae ferries – assumed to be LOCH RIDDON. It would appear that the
Island Class ferries are slowly but surely being eased out of the fleet, as more
Loch Class ships are announced. For now though it looks like EIGG has at least
two more seasons on the Lismore crossing before she is replaced. Upon the new
Cumbrae ferry’s introduction and the subsequent relocation of LOCH RIDDON, it
is unclear what will happen the faithful Lismore servant EIGG.
 Text Thanks To Ships
of CalMac
©
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