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Alfred

Gaelic Name:

N/A

ALFRED

Current Status:

Type:

Callsign:

On Charter to CalMac from Pentland Ferries

Ro-Pax Catamaran

IMO:

MMSI:

Launched:

Acquired:

22 February 2019

2023 (Charter)

1 November 2019 (12th May 2023 on charter to CalMac)

Entered Service:

Disposed:

Details

Ordered By:

Cost:

Registered:

Launched by: 

Named after:

Orkney Ferries

£14,500.00

Kirkwall

Dimensions 

Length:

84.5m

Draught:

Breadth:

5.3m

22.0m

Gross Tonnage:

2995

Technical

Builders:

Strategic Marine Shipyard, Vũng Tàu, Vietnam

Yard No:

Engine Builders:

4 x Yanmar 6EY17W at 749KW

Machinery:

2 x Volvo Penta D9-MG generators, 4 x VETH VT-240 FP bow thrusters, each 300KW

Speed:

16

Hoist & Lifts:

Remarks:

Capacities 

Passengers:

Cars:

Crew:

Lifeboats:

430

98

13

Facilities 

Only basic lounge and toilet facilities provided. No catering available

Route Timeline

Current, Last or Usual Route

IMG_0988-4.jpg

Ardrossan / Troon - Brodick

History

The Alfred was chartered by CalMac in April 2023 following failed negotiations with Pentland Ferries to charter their smaller catamaran Pentalina. The charter was initially agreed for a period of 9 months at an eye-watering cost of £1m a month and was designed to provide additional capacity around the network, as and when she was required. The untimely absence of the elderly Hebridean Isles for much of the 2023 season could be seen as the catalyst for getting the charter finalised.

Berthing trials were carried out at various ports up and down the west coast, with varying degrees of success. Ultimately there were only a limited number of places she could safely berth, including Ardrossan's Irish berth, Brodick, Troon, Ullapool, Uig, Lochmaddy, Port Askaig and Campbeltown. Now it was known where Alfred could safely berth, the decision was made to press her into service on the Ardrossan - Brodick route as second vessel in lieu of Isle of Arran. She commenced this duty on 12th May 2023 and her timetable saw either two or three return sailings depending on the day of the week. This arrangement continued until the end of the summer timetable and at this point it was announced that the Alfred would undertake berthing trials at Stornoway. Despite being just able to land her ramp on the linkspan, the trial was deemed unsatisfactory, as seen on the BBC Scotland documentary 'Island Crossings' (currently available to watch on BBC iPlayer) and as a result, CalMac announced that Alfred would be returning to the Arran service. This in turn allowed the Caledonian Isles to embark on a series of berthing trials of her own in the Western Isles.

Alfred's next turn of duty saw her operating the Uig - Lochmaddy and Uig - Tarbert routes from November 2023 to January 2024, following which she was brought back to Arran. This time she was playing second fiddle to Isle of Arran, for the regular incumbent Caledonian Isles was diagnosed with severe steelwork corrosion and would be kept out of service for the remainder of the year.

The Alfred actually settled in very well on the Arran service, despite grumbles from certain quarters about the lack of catering provided onboard which, for a crossing of less than an hour, was a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things. A more pressing problem arose during February 2024 when the owners of Ardrossan Harbour, Peel Ports Ltd decided to permanently close the Irish berth with no warning. There was no alternative for Alfred other than to base operations out of Troon on an amended timetable for the remainder of her stint on the Arran run.

An extension for the charter to August 2024 had been agreed with Pentland Ferries in November 2023, followed by a further extension to March 2025 in order to see CalMac through what was shaping up to be a difficult winter, thanks in no small part to major problems thrown up this time by the continued absence of Caledonian Isles which was now sidelined until the start of the 2025 summer timetable. The cost of the ongoing charter remained at £1m a month. To put this into perspective, with the money spent on chartering Alfred, CalMac could have had their own version built and have something to show for it!

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