MV Isle of Lewis
Encyclopedia
MV Isle of Lewis is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
owned ferry operated between Ullapool
and Stornoway
by Caledonian MacBrayne
. She is currently their only ship over 100 metres (328 ft) in length.
in Port Glasgow on the Clyde and entered service in 1995. Her crossing time was very impressive – around 2 hours and 45 minutes - at least 45 minutes off the duration of her predecessor, .
With ever increasing traffic on the crossing, there have been a number of rumours in recent years that she will be replaced by an even larger vessel. Currently a chartered freight vessel, is relieving pressure.
The entrance square houses the information desk. Forward is a massive cafeteria overlooking the bow and occupying the full width of the ship. Aft are a designated dog area and a truckers' quiet lounge, with the reclining lounge and bar at the stern. Deck 5 houses the observation lounge at the bow, crew accommodation further aft and an open promenade deck stretching down both sides of the ship. Four stairways lead up to the open top deck, providing copious amounts of seating for those passengers either taking advantage of the summer sun, or more often for those brave souls taking on the Atlantic gales.
in Ross-shire to Stornoway
on the Isle of Lewis. She has to endure some treacherous seas crossing The Minch
, which is one of the most exposed areas around the British Isles
.
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...
owned ferry operated between 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...
and 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...
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...
. She is currently their only ship over 100 metres (328 ft) in length.
History
MV Isle of Lewis was built at Ferguson ShipbuildersFerguson Shipbuilders
Ferguson Shipbuilders Limited is a shipyard located in Port Glasgow on the River Clyde in Scotland. It is the last remaining shipbuilder on the lower Clyde, and is currently the only builder of merchant ships on the river - the company's mainstay has long been Roll-on/roll-off ferries.-History:The...
in Port Glasgow on the Clyde and entered service in 1995. Her crossing time was very impressive – around 2 hours and 45 minutes - at least 45 minutes off the duration of her predecessor, .
With ever increasing traffic on the crossing, there have been a number of rumours in recent years that she will be replaced by an even larger vessel. Currently a chartered freight vessel, is relieving pressure.
Layout
MV Isle of Lewis is a further development of the and ' design with a fully enclosed car deck. There are three lanes to port and two to starboard of the central casing. A mezzanine deck along each side can be raised or lowered according to traffic requirements. Two stairways from the car deck bring passengers out in the entrance square on deck 4, where the passenger gangways enter.The entrance square houses the information desk. Forward is a massive cafeteria overlooking the bow and occupying the full width of the ship. Aft are a designated dog area and a truckers' quiet lounge, with the reclining lounge and bar at the stern. Deck 5 houses the observation lounge at the bow, crew accommodation further aft and an open promenade deck stretching down both sides of the ship. Four stairways lead up to the open top deck, providing copious amounts of seating for those passengers either taking advantage of the summer sun, or more often for those brave souls taking on the Atlantic gales.
Service
MV Isle of Lewis has hardly sailed on any routes other than her own from UllapoolUllapool
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...
in Ross-shire to 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...
on the Isle of Lewis. She has to endure some treacherous seas crossing The Minch
The Minch
The Minch , also called The North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands, and the northern Inner Hebrides, from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides...
, which is one of the most exposed areas around the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
.