MV Hebrides

MV Hebrides (Scottish Gaelic: Innse Gall) is a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne from Uig to Lochmaddy and Tarbert, the main settlements of North Uist and Harris respectively.

[4] Her service speed is 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph), which cuts the crossing times to around 100 minutes and allows three return trips per day.

[2] Hebrides was due to be replaced on the Uig Triangle by MV Glen Rosa, one of two dual-fuel vessels being built at Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow on the Clyde.

She was the first vessel of the fleet to be equipped with a Marine Evacuation System of inflatable chutes leading to large liferafts in place of conventional lifeboats.

Following simulations and the success of the Clansman’s design, her hull incorporates fewer gaps for water to escape from the car deck.

During the spring of 2007 the ship was converted to burn oil, and was trialled on the Oban to Coll, Tiree and Barra and South Uist services.

Her sister, Clansman, soon returned, and Hebrides spent another five years never deviating from her route except for her annual overhaul, which was usually done either at Greenock, Aberdeen, Leith or Birkenhead.

In August 2012, CalMac announced that Hebrides was to be the main relief vessel for the next winter, a role which had usually been assigned to her sister Clansman.

In October 2013, she made an unexpected return to Stornoway to relieve the broken-down Isle of Lewis, which went into drydock for propeller shaft problems.

[9] In September 2018, Hebrides operated to Stornoway whilst the pier at Tarbert was occupied by the damaged Norwegian freighter Fame.

On 21st July 2022, Hebrides was evacuated after a suspicious package was found onboard as she prepared to depart Uig for Lochmaddy.