 FLEET
HISTORIES
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The Fleet
Raasay
History
The
last of the Island Class to be built was the RAASAY. She entered the Clyde from
Lamont’s slipway on 23rd March 1976 and was in public service a
little over a month later.
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Her introduction saw the completion of
the Island Class – eight ferries in all, dating from the KILBRANNAN of 1972
right up to this latest ship. The name of the new ferry rather gave away her
intended route; that between Sconser on the Isle of Skye, and the little island
after which she was named. Consequently she replaced the CANNA and became the
third Raasay ferry in two years. This time though the island gained a ferry for
the next two decades.
RAASAY was based at the inner berth of
the pier on the island as opposed to on Skye. This measure ensured that in an
emergency there was always a vessel on hand to transport people off the island,
for example when there was a medical problem. Raasay was also the terminal that
boasted a proper berth, whereas Sconser merely provided a structure for the
ferry to lie against whilst loading from the slipway. |
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For the next 20 years the little RAASAY remained loyal to ‘her’ island. She
was only ever off duty for her annual overhauls, when she would be relieved by
RHUM or COLL or one of the other small ferries in the winter months. When she
was based at Raasay she did not miss a full day’s sailings in all the time she
was on station, be it through weather-borne disruptions or mechanical problems
– something of a unique claim to fame!
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As the years went on the island became more popular with visitors and in the
late 1990s it was announced that Raasay would be getting a larger ferry – one
of the 1986 ‘Loch Class’ vessels which were to be relocated as part of a
fleet reshuffle. RAASAY was duly replaced by the 12-car LOCH STRIVEN in summer
1997 and then assumed the role of spare ferry for the first time in her career
with Calmac. She spent much of her time lying at Oban or Tobermory, ready to
relieve the EIGG or COLL respectively and did on occasion carry out sailings on
the Lismore and Kilchoan routes when required. Thanks in no small part to the
care and maintenance given to her during her years at Raasay, she was always one
of the Island Class ships in the best condition; a feature that was obviously
recognised when it came to selecting two vessels to be put up for sale in 1998 (RHUM
and COLL were to leave the fleet for further service). |
Approaching Tobermory Slipway
in Late 2003
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RAASAY Seen on Winter Duties at
Kilchoan
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In the years since then the RAASAY has
seen a fairly established routine develop. She can often be found at Gourock and
elsewhere on the Clyde through the summer months before relocating to Tobermory
in the autumn ready to take over the winter service to Kilchoan from LOCH LINNHE
in October. She usually carries out the Kilchoan crossings until the start of
the summer timetable the following year when she returns to spare capacity,
giving relief and additional sailings when required to.
In recent months the now
well-travelled RAASAY has also added another string to her bow. She is now also
used to provide relief sailings on the Small Isles route, sailing from the
linkspan at Mallaig to Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna on scheduled passenger
sailings, in addition to the cattle and livestock runs she had previously
carried out.
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RAASAY
has also another claim to fame – she is a TV star, having previously appeared in a Peugot
advertisement as well as making regular brief appearances in the hit
children’s show Balamory. Her latest TV role saw the RAASAY transporting
Peter Davison and Samantha Bond to the fictional island of Hildasay in the ITV
series Distant Shores, although the vessel name was blanked out and not shown on
screen.
She
appears to have found permanent winter employment as the Kilchoan ferry, where
her 6 car capacity is seldom inadequate, and she plies across the Sound of Mull
usually three times a day. In the summer, whilst she does spend a considerable
amount of time at Gourock as standby, she also acts as back-up to the Cumbrae
ferries LOCH ALAINN and LOCH RIDDON if one or the other requires time off for
repairs at busy times. For now at least, it seems that RAASAY's place in the
fleet is safe. |
RAASAY seen Leaving Mallaig for the
Small Isles
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 Text Thanks To Ships
of CalMac
©
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