MV Loch Linnhe
Encyclopedia
MV Loch Linnhe is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
After over ten years at Largs
, she has been the summer vessel on the Tobermory – Kilchoan
crossing since 1999.
, to cope with increasing traffic on CalMac's smaller routes.
– Fishnish
crossing in July 1986. After one month, she moved to the
Largs
– Great Cumbrae
crossing, in place of , She operated this crossing with her sister ship, for eleven years, until 1997, when Loch Striven was replaced by another sister, .
In 1998, after an earlier winter season on the service, Loch Linnhe moved to the Tarbert
– Portavadie
crossing, previously operated in the summer by and then . In early 1999 she was replaced by and became the summer vessel on the Tobermory – Kilchoan
crossing. In the winter seasons she is relieved by either or for overhaul at Ardmaleish, followed by relief duties. She has seen relief service at Raasay
, Iona
, Gigha
, Eriskay
, Fishnish
, Lochaline
, Lismore
and Bute
.
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...
ro-ro car ferry, built in 1986 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...
After over ten years at Largs
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
, she has been the summer vessel on the Tobermory – Kilchoan
Kilchoan
Kilchoan is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village on Great Britain, although several tiny hamlets lie further west on the peninsula .Kilchoan has a population of about 150.-History:Donaldson equates 'Buarblaig' Kilchoan (Cille...
crossing since 1999.
History
MV Loch Linnhe was the second of four drive-through ferries built in the 1980s by Dunston’s of HessleRichard Dunston (shipbuilder)
Richard Dunston was a shipbuilder on the Humber. The company started building wooden barges miles from the sea and evolved to pioneer fully welded steel ships of a single design...
, to cope with increasing traffic on CalMac's smaller routes.
Layout
The four vessels are based on the design of . They have a second passenger lounge, on the port side, reducing the capacity of the car deck to 12. The wheelhouse is painted red and given a black top, as she has no funnels as such.Service
MV Loch Linnhe replaced on the LochalineLochaline
Lochaline is the main village in Morvern. It is situated at the mouth of Loch Aline, on the northern shore. Lochaline is connected with Fishnish on the Isle of Mull by ferry....
– Fishnish
Fishnish
Fishnish is a ferry terminal for the ferry on the Isle of Mull, roughly half way between Tobermory and Craignure. It is owned and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne...
crossing in July 1986. After one month, she moved to the
Largs
Largs
Largs is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" in Scottish Gaelic....
– Great Cumbrae
Great Cumbrae
Great Cumbrae is the larger of the two islands known as The Cumbraes in the lower Firth of Clyde in western Scotland...
crossing, in place of , She operated this crossing with her sister ship, for eleven years, until 1997, when Loch Striven was replaced by another sister, .
In 1998, after an earlier winter season on the service, Loch Linnhe moved to the Tarbert
Tarbert, Argyll and Bute
Tarbert is a village in Scotland. It is built around East Loch Tarbert, an inlet of Loch Fyne, and extends over the isthmus which links the peninsula of Kintyre to Knapdale and West Loch Tarbert...
– Portavadie
Portavadie
Portavadie is a village in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.The Portavadie complex was built with the help of local labour from the fishing village 'Tarbert' that lay due west across Loch Fyne. The locals from Tarbert who worked there were told that oil had been found on the west shores Loch...
crossing, previously operated in the summer by and then . In early 1999 she was replaced by and became the summer vessel on the Tobermory – Kilchoan
Kilchoan
Kilchoan is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village on Great Britain, although several tiny hamlets lie further west on the peninsula .Kilchoan has a population of about 150.-History:Donaldson equates 'Buarblaig' Kilchoan (Cille...
crossing. In the winter seasons she is relieved by either or for overhaul at Ardmaleish, followed by relief duties. She has seen relief service at Raasay
Raasay
Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish literary renaissance...
, Iona
Iona
Iona is a small island in the Inner Hebrides off the western coast of Scotland. It was a centre of Irish monasticism for four centuries and is today renowned for its tranquility and natural beauty. It is a popular tourist destination and a place for retreats...
, Gigha
Gigha
The Isle of Gigha is a small island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. The island forms part of Argyll and Bute and has a population of about 150 people, many of whom speak Scottish Gaelic. The climate is mild with higher than average sunshine hours and the soils are fertile.Gigha has a...
, Eriskay
Eriskay
Eriskay , from the Old Norse for "Eric's Isle", is an island and community council area of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland. It lies between South Uist and Barra and is connected to South Uist by a causeway which was opened in 2001. In the same year Eriskay became the ferry terminal for...
, Fishnish
Fishnish
Fishnish is a ferry terminal for the ferry on the Isle of Mull, roughly half way between Tobermory and Craignure. It is owned and operated by Caledonian MacBrayne...
, Lochaline
Lochaline
Lochaline is the main village in Morvern. It is situated at the mouth of Loch Aline, on the northern shore. Lochaline is connected with Fishnish on the Isle of Mull by ferry....
, Lismore
Lismore, Scotland
Lismore is a partially Gaelic speaking island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This fertile, low-lying island was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, with a monastery founded by Saint Moluag and the seat of the Bishop of Argyll.-Geography:...
and Bute
Isle of Bute
Bute is an island in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. Formerly part of the county of Buteshire, it now constitutes part of the council area of Argyll and Bute. Its resident population was 7,228 in April 2001.-Geography:...
.