MV Hebrides
Encyclopedia
MV Hebrides a ferry owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
from Uig
on the west coast of Scotland
.
fleet over the years. She carries the bell of the first (an 1898 steamer) which also graced the second "Heb" (1964). The 1964 ship
was MacBrayne's first car ferry and very much a favourite, which for twenty years, also sailed from Uig, Skye
.
Following successful sea trials on the Clyde in early 2001, the Hebrides made her way round to Uig, Tarbert
and Lochmaddy
, where she conducted berthing trials at the three linkspans. Uig and Tarbert piers had to be specially extended to accommodate this new giant. On entry into service on 24 March 2001 she displaced the to Islay
. Her service speed is 16.5 knots (32 km/h), which cuts the crossing times to around 100 minutes and allows three return trips per day.
There were no Sunday sailings to or from Tarbert, so the Hebrides concentrated on serving Lochmaddy on North Uist
. The ratio of crossings is something like 2:1 in favour of North Uist. Having the at Stornoway
(serving Lewis
and Harris), and in 2003 the introduction of the new (making inter-island access easier) have encouraged this trend.
The Hebrides brought with her the highest level of passenger comfort ever seen in the fleet. Despite a passenger certificate for around 600, she never feels crowded. Only at peak times does she need to use her mezzanine car deck for extra cars. With a ship of this size on permanent station at Uig, future increases in demand can be met for many years.
of inflatable chutes leading to large liferafts in place of conventional lifeboat
s. Following simulations and the success of the Clansman’s design, her hull incorporates fewer gaps for water to escape from the car deck.
The Hebrides loads vehicles via a stern ramp at Uig and through her bow at the two Outer Isles ports. Like the Clansman, she has an open stern, allowing her to carry hazardous goods whilst still carrying foot passengers. The car deck has room for approximately 80 cars. A mezzanine deck on the starboard side can be raised or lowered to allow loading of eighteen more cars.
The entrance lobby has the shop and information desk. Forward are a lounge and Eiders Restaurant at the bow. Aft is the Chieftain Bar and open deck area. On the deck above are an observation lounge at the bow, crew accommodation and further open deck.
on Skye to Tarbert
and Lochmaddy
. One notable exception was during closure of the Uig linkspan, when she sailed from Ullapool
for a period of a week or so. At the time she was in company with MV Clansman which was relieving on the Ullapool crossing.
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...
and 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...
from Uig
Uig, Skye
The village of Uig lies at the head of the sheltered inlet of Uig Bay on the west coast of the Trotternish peninsula on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Uig is situated partly on the raised beach around the head of the bay and partly on the steep slopes behind it...
on the west coast of 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...
.
History
The present MV Hebrides revived a traditional name on the "Uig triangle" and is the third vessel of the name in the CalMacCaledonian 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...
fleet over the years. She carries the bell of the first (an 1898 steamer) which also graced the second "Heb" (1964). The 1964 ship
MV Hebrides (1964)
MV Hebrides was the first of a trio of hoist-loading car ferries built for David MacBrayne Ltd in 1964 and operated on the Uig, Skye to Tarbert and Lochmaddy route in Scotland for over twenty years. She is the only Calmac vesseal to have crossed the Atlantic...
was MacBrayne's first car ferry and very much a favourite, which for twenty years, also sailed from Uig, Skye
Uig, Skye
The village of Uig lies at the head of the sheltered inlet of Uig Bay on the west coast of the Trotternish peninsula on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Uig is situated partly on the raised beach around the head of the bay and partly on the steep slopes behind it...
.
Following successful sea trials on the Clyde in early 2001, the Hebrides made her way round to Uig, Tarbert
Tarbert, Western Isles
Tarbert is the main community on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is also a car ferry terminal to Uig on Skye. Its name means "isthmus".-1990 RAF air crash:...
and Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy is the administrative centre of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland...
, where she conducted berthing trials at the three linkspans. Uig and Tarbert piers had to be specially extended to accommodate this new giant. On entry into service on 24 March 2001 she displaced the to Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
. Her service speed is 16.5 knots (32 km/h), which cuts the crossing times to around 100 minutes and allows three return trips per day.
There were no Sunday sailings to or from Tarbert, so the Hebrides concentrated on serving Lochmaddy on North Uist
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
. The ratio of crossings is something like 2:1 in favour of North Uist. Having the at Stornoway
Stornoway
Stornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
(serving Lewis
Lewis
Lewis is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The total area of Lewis is ....
and Harris), and in 2003 the introduction of the new (making inter-island access easier) have encouraged this trend.
The Hebrides brought with her the highest level of passenger comfort ever seen in the fleet. Despite a passenger certificate for around 600, she never feels crowded. Only at peak times does she need to use her mezzanine car deck for extra cars. With a ship of this size on permanent station at Uig, future increases in demand can be met for many years.
Layout
MV Hebrides design is very similar to that of her half-sister, of 1998. There is an increased amount of open deck space, the majority of it being covered. She was the first vessel of the fleet to be equipped with a Marine Evacuation SystemMarine evacuation system
A Marine Evacuation Systems is a lifesaving device found on many modern passenger ships consisting of an inflatable slide or chute where passenger can evacuate straight into waiting life rafts....
of inflatable chutes leading to large liferafts in place of conventional lifeboat
Lifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
s. Following simulations and the success of the Clansman’s design, her hull incorporates fewer gaps for water to escape from the car deck.
The Hebrides loads vehicles via a stern ramp at Uig and through her bow at the two Outer Isles ports. Like the Clansman, she has an open stern, allowing her to carry hazardous goods whilst still carrying foot passengers. The car deck has room for approximately 80 cars. A mezzanine deck on the starboard side can be raised or lowered to allow loading of eighteen more cars.
The entrance lobby has the shop and information desk. Forward are a lounge and Eiders Restaurant at the bow. Aft is the Chieftain Bar and open deck area. On the deck above are an observation lounge at the bow, crew accommodation and further open deck.
Service
MV Hebrides has rarely deviated from the Little Minch, sailing from UigUig, Skye
The village of Uig lies at the head of the sheltered inlet of Uig Bay on the west coast of the Trotternish peninsula on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Uig is situated partly on the raised beach around the head of the bay and partly on the steep slopes behind it...
on Skye to Tarbert
Tarbert, Western Isles
Tarbert is the main community on Harris in the Western Isles of Scotland. It is also a car ferry terminal to Uig on Skye. Its name means "isthmus".-1990 RAF air crash:...
and Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy
Lochmaddy is the administrative centre of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland...
. One notable exception was during closure of the Uig linkspan, when she sailed from Ullapool
Ullapool
Ullapool is a small town of around 1,300 inhabitants in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest settlement for many miles around, and is a major tourist destination of Scotland. The North Atlantic Drift passes by Ullapool, bringing moderate temperatures...
for a period of a week or so. At the time she was in company with MV Clansman which was relieving on the Ullapool crossing.
See also
- Caledonian MacBrayne fleetCaledonian MacBrayne fleetThe Caledonian MacBrayne fleet is the largest fleet of car and passenger ferries in the United Kingdom. With 30 units in operation, the company provides lifeline services to 22 islands off the west coast of Scotland, as well as operating routes across the River Clyde.Caledonian MacBrayne vessels...
- Calmac website