Caledonian MacBrayne fleet
The company provides lifeline services to 23 islands off the west coast of Scotland, as well as operating routes in the Firth of Clyde.
MV Loch Seaforth, at 116 m (381 ft) in length is the largest vessel in the fleet, and operates on the Ullapool to Stornoway, Lewis crossing.
MV Caledonian Isles has the highest passenger capacity and can carry 1000 people on the Ardrossan to Brodick, Arran crossing.
[3] During the summer, MV Isle of Arran, replaced at Islay in 2011,[4] supplements the Ardrossan - Brodick service and sails to Campbeltown.
The first of two new dual-fuel ferries built by Ferguson Marine Engineering, MV Glen Sannox, was handed over to CalMac on 21 November 2024.
This sparked the Scottish ferry fiasco, surrounding the political controversies that had arisen as a result of the severe delay.
[7][8] The Loch class are a group of smaller vessels with a single car deck, running the length of the ship, with a ramp at each end.
[10] The third hybrid ferry, MV Catriona, was launched on 11 December 2015 and entered service on the Claonaig to Lochranza route in September 2016.
[14] Ali Cat, then owned by Solent and Wightline Cruises and chartered by CalMac from Red Funnel Line, entered service on the route in 2002.
[16] From 30 June 2011, the Gourock - Dunoon service was awarded on a passenger-only basis to the newly formed David MacBrayne Ltd subsidiary Argyll Ferries.
MV Coruisk is a 65 m (213 ft) "sheltered water vessel", operating on the Mallaig to Armadale route in summer, and relieving on the Clyde in winter.
[19] MV Lochnevis is a highly specialised ship serving the Small Isles of Eigg, Canna, Rùm and Muck from Mallaig.
[20] This allows her to berth a considerable distance from slipways, protecting her exposed Azipod propulsion systems in shallow waters.
[26] During November and December, due to a technical issue with MV Loch Portain, Alfred provided a service between Tarbert and Lochmaddy.
[29] Their introduction into service was delayed by pier work to install an end-loading linkspan, allowing full ro-ro operation.
The second of the two dual-fuel ferries under construction by Ferguson Marine Engineering, MV Glen Rosa, is expected to be delivered in September 2025.
[36] A £91 million contract to build two ferries for the Islay service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in Turkey in March 2022.
CMAL signed a contract in January 2023 for Cemre Shipyard to also build the two ferries, which would allow a dedicated, peak season services to Tarbert and Lochmaddy from Uig and provide additional resilience in the fleet.
[43][44] All apart from the first vessel being built in Turkey has a raised aft mooring deck due to the higher piers on the Uig Triangle.
[48] MV Hebridean Isles was a ro-ro vehicle ferry that was operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the west coast of Scotland.
With bow, stern and side ramps, Hebridean Isles was suitable for all the routes served by the large fleet units.
