 FLEET
HISTORIES
 Main
The Fleet
Loch
Linnhe
History
LOCH LINNHE’s history
goes back to the early 1980s when the order for four new drive-through ferries
was placed with Dunston’s of Hessle on the Humber. For years previously a
number of routes had seen traffic levels build up steadily and were now at the
point where the small ferries that were used could no longer cope with demand.
Prime examples of this were the Largs – Cumbrae Slip, Lochranza – Claonaig,
Colintraive – Rhubodach and Fishnish – Lochaline routes.
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The new ferries were modified versions of the ISLE OF
CUMBRAE, at that time operating the Cumbrae route on her own. Their overall size
was roughly the same as the 1977-built vessel, however their car decks were only
wide enough to take two lanes of vehicles as opposed to three. The space that
would have been allocated for the third vehicle lane, on the port side of the
ships was actually given over to a second passenger lounge in addition to that
on the starboard side. This modification reduced car capacity to 12 but
increased passenger capacity to around 200.
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LOCH LINNHE off Duty at Largs
with
LOCH STRIVEN in Service
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As
with the ISLE OF CUMBRAE, the new ferries received Voith Schneider
propulsion units fore and aft which meant they could manoeuvre around the
tightest turns and berth with ease at their given slipways. The newbuilds were
also more aesthetically pleasing when they emerged in 1986 and 1987. They had no
funnels as such so their wheelhouses were painted red and given a black top. The
lion emblem was added to either side of the wheelhouse and the mainmast rose at
an angle above it.
The first of the four
new ferries had been named LOCH STRIVEN. LOCH LINNHE was the second vessel
completed and followed her sister up the east coast from the Humber to Inverness
and through the Caledonian Canal before emerging at Corpach and sailing off down
the loch with which she shared her name. After passing Lismore the LOCH LINNHE
then headed up the Sound of Mull and to Fishnish and Lochaline for berthing
trails. Following successful completion of these, the new ferry then entered
service in early July 1986, replacing the CANNA on the secondary route to Mull.
Her introduction into service brought with it double the capacity on the route
as well as removal of reversing on and off the car deck.
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LOCH LINNHE remained on
the Lochaline crossing for about four weeks before transferring to the Clyde in
place of ISLE OF CUMBRAE which then took her place at Lochaline. Upon arrival at
Largs she joined LOCH STRIVEN on the Cumbrae Slip service and allowed a
two-ship, quarter hourly service from either terminal at peak times. Up to 48
cars could be carried in either direction in an hour when both sisters were in
service – a 33% increase on a year earlier with just the ISLE OF CUMBRAE.
The Cumbrae crossing
became the home of the two sisters for 11 years. Both would be in service during
the summers and one would venture off to other routes on relief duties in the
winters while the other one remained at Largs. As such LOCH LINNHE saw service
at Iona, Lochaline, Lismore, Gigha and Bute while on relief duties. In the mid
1990s, like her sister, the LOCH LINNHE saw a winter on the Tarbert –
Portavadie/Lochranza crossing as well.
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LOCH LINNHE Sitting at Portavadie
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1997 saw the Cumbrae Lochs being split up as the LOCH
STRIVEN went north to take over the Sconser – Raasay route. LOCH LINNHE was
given a new partner in the shape of LOCH RIDDON. The following year however saw
LOCH LINNHE leave, also for pastures new. For the 1998 season she was placed on
the Tarbert – Portavadie crossing. Until this time RHUM and then BRUERNISH had
operated the summer service but it was clear that the demand was there for a
larger ferry. LOCH LINNHE brought year round drive through capability to the
route and as a result traffic grew. Gone was the potential problem of there not
being space on the ferry after a lengthy drive down Kintyre.
Despite
her success on the Loch Fyne crossing, the LOCH LINNHE was transferred again in
early 1999 when she was replaced by the very vessel she ousted from Largs over a
decade previously. The ISLE OF CUMBRAE arrived to take control of the Portavadie
run in time for the summer season and the displaced ship moved over to the
Western Isles for her next assignment.
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LOCH
LINNHE Seen Leaving Kilchoan
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Since 1999 she has been the summer resident on the
Tobermory – Kilchoan crossing. She replaced the EIGG early in the spring so
that the smaller vessel could go away for modifications and resume service at
Oban and upgraded this route to drive-through just as she had on Loch Fyne the
year before. The slipways at Tobermory and at Kilchoan on Ardnamurchan were
specially widened to accommodate her and she settled into her new routine. In
the winter seasons she would be relieved by either BRUERNISH or more often
RAASAY while she was slipped at Ardmaleish and then embarked on a whistle-stop
tour of the network on relief duties. In recent winters she has seen service on
the Raasay, Iona, Gigha, Eriskay and Fishnish crossings while fleetmates have
been away.
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LOCH LINNHE returns to
Tobermory in early spring each season, just in time to take over from the RAASAY
and commence the summer timetable. This is yet another route that has been
modernised to drive-through status and as a result the amount of traffic using
the route has seen a considerable increase (thanks partly perhaps to a certain
childrens TV show set in Tobermory…)
 Text Thanks To Ships
of CalMac
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