MV Loch Dunvegan
Encyclopedia
MV Loch Dunvegan is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
car ferry built for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating in the Kyles of Bute
, Scotland
. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
.
on 13 May 1991. Even at this time, it was known that the Skye Bridge
was coming. On 16 October 1995, Loch Dunvegan and Loch Fyne, dressed with flags, gave the last ever car ferry runs across this narrow stretch of water. Loch Dunvegan was laid up in James Watt Dock at Greenock
for two years. No sale was completed and in 1997, CalMac prepared the vessels for service once more. In August, Loch Dunvegan went to relieve the new , which had suffered a major breakdown at Lochaline
on the Sound of Mull
. Breaking down herself, she was relieved on 27 September 1997 by Loch Fyne, which went on to become the permanent vessel on Mull's
secondary crossing. Since 1999, Loch Dunvegan has been the main vessel on the five minute run from Colintraive
to Rhubodach
.
and Kyleakin
on Skye
until 1995. Two years layup followed, after which Loch Dunvegan was employed on relief duties, seeing service at Mallaig
, Fishnish
(relieving her sister) and providing a passenger-only service on the Wemyss Bay
- Rothesay
route. In July 1998, she provided an emergency service between Portavadie
and Tarbert
while the main Kintyre
road was closed due to a landslide
.
In early 1999, Loch Dunvegan took over from on the secondary Bute
crossing, from Colintraive
to Rhubodach
.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited owns the ferries, ports, harbours and infrastructure for the ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary.CMAL is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, with Scottish Ministers as sole shareholders.-History:Until...
car ferry built for the Isle of Skye crossing and now operating in the Kyles of Bute
Kyles of Bute
The Kyles of Bute are a narrow sea channel which separates the northern end of the Isle of Bute from the Cowal peninsula, part of the Scottish mainland....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. She is operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
.
History
Loch Dunvegan entered service at Kyle of LochalshKyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
on 13 May 1991. Even at this time, it was known that the Skye Bridge
Skye Bridge
The Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting mainland Highland with the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It forms part of the A87. The bridge is located at around , with one pillar standing on the island of Eilean Bàn....
was coming. On 16 October 1995, Loch Dunvegan and Loch Fyne, dressed with flags, gave the last ever car ferry runs across this narrow stretch of water. Loch Dunvegan was laid up in James Watt Dock at Greenock
Greenock
Greenock is a town and administrative centre in the Inverclyde council area in United Kingdom, and a former burgh within the historic county of Renfrewshire, located in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
for two years. No sale was completed and in 1997, CalMac prepared the vessels for service once more. In August, Loch Dunvegan went to relieve the new , which had suffered a major breakdown at Lochaline
Lochaline
Lochaline is the main village in Morvern. It is situated at the mouth of Loch Aline, on the northern shore. Lochaline is connected with Fishnish on the Isle of Mull by ferry....
on the Sound of Mull
Sound of Mull
The Sound of Mull is a sound between the Inner Hebridean island of Mull and Scotland. It forms part of the Atlantic Ocean....
. Breaking down herself, she was relieved on 27 September 1997 by Loch Fyne, which went on to become the permanent vessel on Mull's
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
secondary crossing. Since 1999, Loch Dunvegan has been the main vessel on the five minute run from Colintraive
Colintraive
Colintraive is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Ferries sail between Colintraive and Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. It is located on the Kyles of Bute or Loch Riddon on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula...
to Rhubodach
Rhubodach
Rhubodach is a small settlement on the north-eastern shore of the Isle of Bute, Scotland.The name Rhubodach may come from the Gaelic Rubha a’ Bhodaich which translates as old man's point or promontory or alternatively may be from An Rubha Bhódaich meaning the Bute headland.Rhubodach lies at the...
.
Layout
Loch Dunvegan and her twin sister, , both built for the Skye route, were loosely based on the earlier . Passenger accommodation along the starboard side of the hull can cater for up to 250 persons, with lounges on two levels and an open deck above. The car deck has four lanes and can take 36 cars. The high sided design is prone to being caught by the wind. She initially had very wide ramps at both ends. Initially lengthened to reduce the risk of long vehicles grounding, these have been replaced by narrower and lighter ramps.Service
Loch Dunvegan and provided a 24-hour service between Kyle of LochalshKyle of Lochalsh
Kyle of Lochalsh is a village on the northwest coast of Scotland, 63 miles west of Inverness. It is located at the entrance to Loch Alsh, opposite the village of Kyleakin on the Isle of Skye...
and Kyleakin
Kyleakin
The village of Kyleakin is situated on the east coast of the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides, along the strait of Kyle Akin opposite the northwest Scottish mainland town of Kyle of Lochalsh...
on Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
until 1995. Two years layup followed, after which Loch Dunvegan was employed on relief duties, seeing service at Mallaig
Mallaig
Mallaig ; is a port in Lochaber, on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. The local railway station, Mallaig, is the terminus of the West Highland railway line , completed in 1901, and the town is linked to Fort William by the A830 road – the "Road to the Isles".The village of Mallaig...
, Fishnish
Fishnish
Fishnish is a ferry terminal for the ferry on the Isle of Mull, roughly half way between Tobermory and Craignure. It is owned and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne...
(relieving her sister) and providing a passenger-only service on the Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'...
- Rothesay
Rothesay
Rothesay or Rothsay may refer to:Places*Rothesay, Argyll and Bute, on the Isle of Bute, Scotland*Rothesay, New Brunswick, Canada*Rothesay , Canada*Rothsay, Minnesota, USA*Rothsay, Western AustraliaPeople*Duke of Rothesay...
route. In July 1998, she provided an emergency service between Portavadie
Portavadie
Portavadie is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.The Portavadie complex was built with the help of local labour from the fishing village 'Tarbert' that lay due west across Loch Fyne. The locals from Tarbert who worked there were told that oil had been found on the west shores Loch...
and Tarbert
Tarbert, Argyll and Bute
Tarbert is a village in Scotland. It is built around East Loch Tarbert, an inlet of Loch Fyne, and extends over the isthmus which links the peninsula of Kintyre to Knapdale and West Loch Tarbert...
while the main Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
road was closed due to a landslide
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
.
In early 1999, Loch Dunvegan took over from on the secondary Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
crossing, from Colintraive
Colintraive
Colintraive is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Ferries sail between Colintraive and Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. It is located on the Kyles of Bute or Loch Riddon on the west coast of the Cowal peninsula...
to Rhubodach
Rhubodach
Rhubodach is a small settlement on the north-eastern shore of the Isle of Bute, Scotland.The name Rhubodach may come from the Gaelic Rubha a’ Bhodaich which translates as old man's point or promontory or alternatively may be from An Rubha Bhódaich meaning the Bute headland.Rhubodach lies at the...
.