 FLEET
HISTORIES
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The Fleet
Loch
Riddon
History
LOCH RIDDON’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 RIDDON and PIONEER at
Colintraive
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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 and second of the four new ferries had been named LOCH STRIVEN and LOCH
LINNHE respectively. LOCH RIDDON was the third vessel to make the long delivery
voyage round from the Humber and she eventually arrived towards the end of 1986.
Her launch was actually delayed when she refused to budge on the slipway in the
yard! The next route earmarked for a new vessel was that between Colintraive and
Rhubodach in the Kyles of Bute. The LOCH RIDDON’s arrival spelt redundancy for
the PORTREE and BROADFORD – two ex Skye ferries converted to bow-loading in
the early 1970s.
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Unlike
the previous two new ferries which found themselves working at Cumbrae, the LOCH
RIDDON was not readily called upon to go off and provide winter relief services.
For many years she would not venture further west than Rhubodach slipway in one
direction, whereas Ardmaleish boatyard would be the furthest east she would be
seen. There was the odd occasion when she would make it as far as Largs or
Gourock for repairs, but in general during her first 11 years in service the
only time she would be with another fleet member would be on Bute Highland Games
weekend for example when a Cumbrae ferry would assist her in clearing traffic at
the busy periods. |
LOCH RIDDON Arriving at Largs
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LOCH
RIDDON Setting off From Eriskay on Relief
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All
this changed in 1997 however. A new Loch Class ferry entered service in July of
that year. The LOCH ALAINN began her career with a three week spell of duty on
the Colintraive route before switching with the ISLE OF CUMBRAE in August, so
the LOCH RIDDON moved out of the way and sought refuge at Largs where she
partnered the LOCH LINNHE on the 10 minute crossing to Cumbrae Slip. This new
route was her first real taste of life outside of the Kyles of Bute and it has
been her main occupation for over seven seasons now.
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Since spring 1998 she
has been very much the secondary Cumbrae ferry, following the reintroduction to
service of the LOCH ALAINN. The very vessel which replaced her at the Kyles of
Bute was now her partnering ships at Largs and between them the two ferries
could carry 36 cars across every 15 minutes throughout the day.
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In addition to her duties at Largs for most of the
year the LOCH RIDDON has also seen action far from her usual home. For example
in the winter seasons she has covered on the Tarbert – Portavadie/Lochranza
crossing in recent years. She has also been called away from Largs on emergency
relief duties in the summer seasons on occasion, for example in July 2004 when
she was called across to Arran to cover for the LOCH TARBERT which had broken
down, and in September 2004 when she battled to clear all the traffic while
covering for the LOCH FYNE at Fishnish. She has also been to the Outer Hebrides
and has relieved the LOCH BHRUSDA on the Ardmhor – Eriskay route in the
not-too-distant past.
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LOCH RIDDON Arriving at Portavadie on
Winter Duties
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The last few years have provided the LOCH RIDDON with
far more variety than in the first years of her career when she would not
venture far from Colintraive. As for the next few years, it is hard to say where
she will end up. It has just been announced that a new ferry is to be built for
the Cumbrae crossing and that one of the current vessels will move to Lismore.
It is almost certain that this would be the LOCH RIDDON although for now though
the she provides a reliable service to Cumbrae as well as a useful back-up
capacity for when fleetmates break down.
 Text Thanks To Ships
of CalMac
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