David MacBrayne Ltd
Encyclopedia
David MacBrayne Ltd is a company owned by the Scottish Government. Formed in 1851 as a private shipping company, it became the main carrier for freight and passengers in the Hebrides
. In 1973, it was merged with Caledonian Steam Packet Company
as state-owned Caledonian MacBrayne
.
After lying dormant for a number of years, the company was reactivated in 2006 by Scottish Ministers to act as the holding company for ferry operators CalMac Ferries Ltd (operating as Caledonian MacBrayne
) and Northlink Ferries
Ltd. In 2011, newly created operator Argyll Ferries Ltd
was added to the group.
The Company rapidly became the main carrier on the West Highland routes, providing passenger and freight services to most islands. They initially operated from Glasgow
down the Firth of Clyde
through the Crinan Canal
to Oban
and Fort William, and on through the Caledonian Canal
to Inverness
. They added the mail run to Islay, Harris and North Uist from Skye and then the Outer Isles run from Oban to Barra and South Uist. As each opened, they added the railheads at Oban, Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh and Strome Ferry.
MacBraynes remained in the hands of the family until 1928, when it was unable to support a bid for the renewal of the mail contract and effectively became bankrupt. No other operator was found for the contract and the company was reformed, with ownership divided between Coast Lines
and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
.
In 1948 the shares in the company owned by the LMS passed to the British Transport Commission
thus partially nationalising it.
In 1964, the rising number of motor vehicles led to the ordering of three purpose-built vessels, , and MV Columba for the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy, Mallaig-Armadale and Oban-Craignure-Lochaline routes.
acquired most of the ships and routes of MacBraynes and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations, under the new name of Caledonian MacBrayne
, with a combined headquarters at Gourock.
) operates the Clyde
and Hebrides
services, Argyll Ferries, which operates the Dunoon
- Gourock
passenger service, and NorthLink Ferries
Ltd, which operates the Aberdeen
- Kirkwall
- Lerwick
and Scrabster - Stromness
services. Scottish Ministers are the sole shareholder of the group, and all subsidiaries are private companies.
The vessels and piers used by the ferry operators are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
(CMAL), which is also owned by the Scottish Government. CMAL leases the vessels and piers to the operating companies for the duration of the contracts. The ships are chartered to the relevant ferry operators, and the piers and harbours operated under fairly standard berthing charges.
service as part of MacBrayne's "Royal Route" to Oban
.
Source
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
. In 1973, it was merged with Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Caledonian Steam Packet Company
The Caledonian Steam Packet Company provided a scheduled shipping service, carrying freight and passengers, on the west coast of Scotland. Formed in 1889 to complement the services of the Caledonian Railway, the company expanded by taking over rival ferry companies...
as state-owned 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...
.
After lying dormant for a number of years, the company was reactivated in 2006 by Scottish Ministers to act as the holding company for ferry operators CalMac Ferries Ltd (operating as 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...
) and Northlink Ferries
Northlink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:...
Ltd. In 2011, newly created operator Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries is a ferry company formed in January 2011 by parent company David MacBrayne Ltd to tender for the Dunoon to Gourock route. They were announced as the preferred bidder at the end of May 2011, with the service due to commence on 30 June of that year, subject to exchange of contracts on...
was added to the group.
Formation
In 1851, Burns Brothers, G. and J. Burns of Glasgow passed their fleet of Hebridean vessels to their chief clerk, David Hutchinson. The new company, David Hutcheson & Co. had three partners, David Hutcheson, Alexander Hutcheson and David MacBrayne. In 1878, the company passed to David MacBrayne, partner and nephew of Messrs. Burns.The Company rapidly became the main carrier on the West Highland routes, providing passenger and freight services to most islands. They initially operated from Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
down the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
through the Crinan Canal
Crinan Canal
The Crinan canal is a canal in the west of Scotland. It takes its name from the village of Crinan at its westerly end. Nine miles long, it connects the village of Ardrishaig on Loch Gilp with the Sound of Jura, providing a navigable route between the Clyde and the Inner Hebrides, without the need...
to Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
and Fort William, and on through the Caledonian Canal
Caledonian Canal
The Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
to Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. They added the mail run to Islay, Harris and North Uist from Skye and then the Outer Isles run from Oban to Barra and South Uist. As each opened, they added the railheads at Oban, Mallaig, Kyle of Lochalsh and Strome Ferry.
MacBraynes remained in the hands of the family until 1928, when it was unable to support a bid for the renewal of the mail contract and effectively became bankrupt. No other operator was found for the contract and the company was reformed, with ownership divided between Coast Lines
Coast Lines
-History:Powell, Bacon and Hough Lines Ltd was formed in 1913 in Liverpool. The name of Coast Lines Limited was adopted in 1917, when the company was purchased by the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company at a cost of £800,000...
and the London, Midland and Scottish Railway
London, Midland and Scottish Railway
The London Midland and Scottish Railway was a British railway company. It was formed on 1 January 1923 under the Railways Act of 1921, which required the grouping of over 120 separate railway companies into just four...
.
Expansion
The new owners rebuilt the ageing fleet with motor vessels such as , and . After the Second World War, and were added.In 1948 the shares in the company owned by the LMS passed to the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
thus partially nationalising it.
In 1964, the rising number of motor vehicles led to the ordering of three purpose-built vessels, , and MV Columba for the Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy, Mallaig-Armadale and Oban-Craignure-Lochaline routes.
Merger
In 1970, the remaining 50% passed into state ownership. On 1 January 1973, the other state-owned shipping company, Clyde based Caledonian Steam Packet CompanyCaledonian Steam Packet Company
The Caledonian Steam Packet Company provided a scheduled shipping service, carrying freight and passengers, on the west coast of Scotland. Formed in 1889 to complement the services of the Caledonian Railway, the company expanded by taking over rival ferry companies...
acquired most of the ships and routes of MacBraynes and commenced joint Clyde and West Highland operations, under the new name of 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...
, with a combined headquarters at Gourock.
Reactivation
In 2006 David MacBrayne Ltd was reactivated by the Scottish Government to act as a holding company for state-owned ferry operators. It consists of CalMac Ferries Ltd, which (as Caledonian MacBrayneCaledonian 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...
) operates the Clyde
Clyde
-Places named Clyde:In Scotland:* River Clyde* Firth of ClydeIn Australia:* Clyde, New South Wales* Clyde, Victoria* Clyde River, New South WalesIn Canada:* Clyde, Prince Edward Island* Clyde, Quebec* Clyde, Ontario* Clyde, Alberta...
and Hebrides
Hebrides
The Hebrides comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive...
services, Argyll Ferries, which operates the Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
- Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
passenger service, and NorthLink Ferries
Northlink Ferries
NorthLink Ferries operates daily ferry services between mainland Scotland and the northern archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland. NorthLink Ferries is a wholly owned subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, whose sole shareholder is the Scottish Government.-History:...
Ltd, which operates the Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
- Kirkwall
Kirkwall
Kirkwall is the biggest town and capital of Orkney, off the coast of northern mainland Scotland. The town is first mentioned in Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046 when it is recorded as the residence of Rögnvald Brusason the Earl of Orkney, who was killed by his uncle Thorfinn the Mighty...
- Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
and Scrabster - Stromness
Stromness
Stromness is the second-biggest town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the south-west of Mainland Orkney. It is also a parish, with the town of Stromness as its capital.-Etymology:...
services. Scottish Ministers are the sole shareholder of the group, and all subsidiaries are private companies.
The vessels and piers used by the ferry operators are owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
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...
(CMAL), which is also owned by the Scottish Government. CMAL leases the vessels and piers to the operating companies for the duration of the contracts. The ships are chartered to the relevant ferry operators, and the piers and harbours operated under fairly standard berthing charges.
Ships of David MacBrayne
MacBrayne ships featured red funnels with a black top. One of the best known was , MacBrayne's flagship from 1879 to 1935. She was an early steel-hulled 301 foot vessel, built by J & G Thomson in 1878. Columba was the largest and most luxurious Clyde steamer of the day and operated the Glasgow to ArdrishaigArdrishaig
Ardrishaig is a lochside village at the southern entrance to the Crinan Canal in west Scotland, in Argyll. Ardrishaig had 1,283 inhabitants in 2001....
service as part of MacBrayne's "Royal Route" to Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
.
List of ships operated by the company
- PS Glengarry (ex-Edinburgh Castle) (1844)
- PS Glencoe (ex-Mary Jane) (1846)
- PS Lochness (I) (1853)
- PS Mountaineer (II) (1858)
- PS Gairlochy (1861)
- SS Staffa (III) (1861)
- SS Clydesdale (1862) (III) (1864)
- PS Chevalier (1866)
- PS Gondolier (1866)
- SS Linnet (1866)
- PS Lovedale (ex-Great Western) (1867)
- PS Gael (1867)
- SS Clansman (II) (1870)
- PS Islay (II) (1872)
- SS Fingal (II) (1877)
- SS Lochiel (I) (1877) paddle steamer (1878)
- SS Handa (1878)
- SS Ethel (1878) (re-named Clansman (III) in 1910)
- PS Carbineer (1878)
- SS Flowerdale (1878)
- SS Claymore (II) (1881)
- SS Cavalier (1883)
- SS Texa (1884)
- PS Grenadier (1885)
- PS Fusilier (1888) (1898) (McCallum & Orme until 1930) (1929) (1930) (1930) (1931) (1934) (1935)
- MV Garry (1937) (1939)
- MV Lochnell (1941)
- MV Loch Broom (1946)
- MV Lochdunvegan (1946) (1947)
- MV Loch Carron (1951) (1955) (1964) (1964)
- MV Columba (1964) (1970)
Source