 FLEET
HISTORIES
 Main
The Fleet
Isle
of Cumbrae
History
Throughout
the 1970s the Ayrshire island of Great Cumbrae was served by two small
bow-loading ferries; LARGS and CORUISK. These were only capable of carrying at
most six cars each and often required then assistance of a third ship (usually
KILBRANNAN or one of the other Island Class vessels as they became available).
This situation continued over the years, with the queues at Largs and Cumbrae
Slip growing year on year until a solution was reached in 1977.
|
|
MV ISLE OF CUMBRAE was launched shortly before
Christmas 1976 and entered regular service the following April. Her design was
basically a scaled-down version of the Skye ferries KYLEAKIN and LOCHALSH. Like
them she was propelled by Voith Schneider units fore and aft, in diagonally
opposite corners of her hull. She had three lane on her car deck, each capable
of holding six cars, giving her a total capacity of 18. Her passenger
accommodation was located down the length of the hull on her starboard side,
above which sat her small wheelhouse. The loading method for both cars and
passengers was via a ramp at either end of the car deck. Each ramp was folded in
two sections, like those on the Island Class ferries. The main body of the ramp
would be lowered whilst approaching the slipway and the forward section would be
lowered once the vessel was actually in position on the concrete slipway.
|
ISLE OF CUMBRAE Arriving at Largs
Early in Her Career
|
After
entering service in early April 1977 the ISLE OF CUMBRAE quickly solved all the
problems encountered previously with the smaller ferries. The crossing was only
of ten minutes duration and with five minutes at each terminal she could
complete two return sailings each hour.
She remained on the
crossing from Largs until summer 1986. Initially at this time (from 4th
July) she was paired with the new LOCH STRIVEN which could carry twelve cars and
was of a similar design, but after exactly a month the ISLE OF CUMBRAE was
transferred to the Western Isles, effectively switching places with the new LOCH
LINNHE (the second of four identical sisters built for the company). Whilst the
new twins took control of the Largs route the displaced ISLE OF CUMBRAE took
over the Fishnish – Lochaline crossing in the Sound of Mull. The previous
long-term vessel here had been the CANNA which of course could only carry six
cars, so the arrival of the ISLE OF CUMBRAE was a great improvement for the
route as it meant that for the first time, commercial vehicles could be carried.
|
|
The
new crossing was only 15 minutes in length and quickly proved popular, although
on the return leg of the journey from Mull to Lochaline, a number of passengers
would be confused by the vessel swinging round and proceeding in what appeared
to be reverse. The reason for this being the angle at which Lochaline slipway
was set facing up the loch. It was simply easier for the ferry to turn at
Fishnish than in the confines of Lochaline itself. Sailing from early morning to
late evening in the high summer, ISLE OF CUMBRAE could fit in a return sailing
every 40 minutes, offering up to nearly 20 crossings each day. |
ISLE OF CUMBRAE Arriving at Fishnish,
Mull
|
Her introduction on
this back-door route was a huge success. Drivers could turn up for any given
sailing and be virtually guaranteed of a space on the ferry – unlike
previously when many would see the CANNA arrive and depart two or more times
before finally being able to board. This new development meant that day trips to
Mull from places such as Fort William and beyond were now possible, as were day
trips to Inverness for the islanders, provided they were prepared for a full day
out.
The
former Cumbrae ferry lasted on the Lochaline crossing for a further decade
before she began to leave vehicles behind. Previously, at busy periods such as
the Mull Rally weekend, she would be assisted by the COLL or one of the other
Island Class ships, however by 1997 it was clear that she needed replacing with
an altogether larger ferry.
|
|
ISLE OF CUMBRAE Covering the
Kyles of
Bute Crossing
|
Her replacement duly arrived on the scene in July
1997 in the shape of the LOCH ALAINN, capable of taking 24 cars on her wide car
deck. The ISLE OF CUMBRAE was soon found alternative employment however, and in
a matter of days she was to be found in the Kyles of Bute having replaced LOCH
RIDDON on the short crossing from Colintraive to Rhubodach on Bute. Here too she
brought an increase in the number of cars that could be accommodated on each
crossing – her predecessor taking a maximum of 12 on the three minutes
sailing. She did of course end up venturing back to her original route from time
to time on relief duties or at peak periods (either LOCH LINNHE or LOCH RIDDON
would switch places with her). |
|
Her
period on the Kyles of Bute was relatively short though. She remained there for
the 1998 season whilst a new pier was constructed at Colintraive and was
subsequently replaced by the much larger LOCH DUNVEGAN in early 1999. Following
this latest displacement, the ISLE OF CUMBRAE was transferred to the now
year-round Tarbert – Portavadie route across Loch Fyne, although she was only
on this for the duration of the summer timetable. Winter would see her take up a
relief role, covering on the Colintraive and Lochaline crossings for the larger
LOCH DUNVEGAN and LOCH FYNE respectively. |
ISLE OF CUMBRAE on her Current
Summer
Role Pictured in Loch Fyne
|
Her
new role as summer vessel on the increasingly popular service across Loch Fyne
has been a success and she looks set to continue there for some time yet. The
same cannot be said for winter relief duties though. The routes on which she has
previously been employed in relief capacity (for example Lochaline - Fishnish,
Colintraive - Rhubodach and occasionally Largs - Cumbrae Slip) are now deemed
too busy for her 18-car capacity and this was shown in the winter of 2006/7 when
she required the assistance of LOCH LINNHE on the Lochaline - Fishnish run in
order to clear traffic. It is likely that ISLE OF CUMBRAE will be limited to the
Tobermory - Kilchoan route in the 2007/8 round of reliefs.
Either way there is still plenty of room for development on her main route and
it seems that she will be there for a few summers yet.
|
 Text Thanks To
Ships of CalMac
©
 GO BACK TO
ISLE
OF CUMBRAE |
SoC
HOME 
