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Hebridean Isles

Gaelic Name:

Eileanan Innse Gall

HEBRIDEAN ISLES

Current Status:

Type:

Callsign:

Withdrawn for dismantling / spares

Steel MV

GFMJ

IMO:

MMSI:

Launched:

Acquired:

8404812

232000420

4th July 1985

-

5th December 1985

Entered Service:

Disposed:

21st November 2024

Details

Ordered By:

Cost:

Registered:

Launched by: 

Named after:

Caledonian MacBrayne

Glasgow

HRH the Duchess of Kent

The Hebridean Isles are the Islands to the North West of Scotland which she was built to serve

Dimensions 

Length:

85.15m

Draught:

Breadth:

3.11m

15.8m

Gross Tonnage:

3040

Technical

Builders:

Cochrane Shipbuilders Ltd, Selby

Yard No:

130

Engine Builders:

Mirrless Blackstone Diesels (Stockport)

Machinery:

Speed:

15

Hoist & Lifts:

Remarks:

1x vehicle hoist fitted with side ramps

She was the first ship of the company to be launched by royalty

Capacities 

Passengers:

Cars:

Crew:

Lifeboats:

507

68

24

4

Facilities 

Observation lounge
Cafeteria
Passenger lounges
Coffee Cabin
Disabled lift
Shop/kiosk
Information desk
Luggage storage
Toilets

Route Timeline

1985 - 2000: Uig - Tarbert - Lochmaddy
2000 - 2024: Kennacraig - Port Askaig / Port Ellen
2001 - 2024: Kennacraig - Port Askaig - Colonsay - Oban
Additional:
Ardrossan - Brodick / Oban - Lochboisdale / Oban - Coll - Tiree / Oban - Craignure / Ullapool - Stornoway

Current, Last or Usual Route

IMG_0988-4.jpg

History

By 1983 the vast majority of Calmac routes had been brought up to date and modernised. Hoist loading was slowly but surely being eradicated from day-to-day life on the west coast. One area where hoist loading was still the order of the day was on the so-called Uig triangle, linking Skye with Tarbert on the Isle of Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist. For almost 20 years the faithful Hebrides had kept these routes open, however she had a tendency to run late, given the distinct lack of speed in her hoist system.

At the launch of Isle of Arran in 1983 it was announced that a new ship was to be constructed for service on the Uig routes. She would be of broadly similar size to the Isle of Arran and although intended for one specific route, would be suitable for use anywhere within the current network.
Constructed at Cochrane’s yard in Selby, Hebridean Isles was launched sideways into the Ouse in 1985, creating a large wave in the process. Following her delivery voyage and acceptance by Calmac, one of the first tasks performed by the new vessel was to conduct trials at various ports around the network.

Hebridean Isles’ design incorporated a bow visor, bow and stern ramps as well as a vehicle hoist and side ramps, therefore making her suitable for all the routes served by the large fleet units. In terms of capacity she could accommodate almost 70 cars on her spacious car deck whereas her passenger accommodation was situated on two decks above the car deck, forward of the hoist. Internally her layout on one deck comprised the cafeteria furthest aft, then the entrance concourse, shop and information point with the reclining lounge and bar towards the bow, whilst upstairs, above the cafeteria was the observation lounge. Forward of this there was crew accommodation with the bridge on the next level at the bow. Externally there was ample deck space and, like the Isle of Arran, she incorporated a deck area forward of the bridge, giving passengers a view ahead.

It was not until spring 1986 that the Hebridean Isles took over the Uig routes from the winter relief ship Columba. This was due to delays in getting the necessary construction works at the various piers completed. New linkspans were required at all three of her regular terminals, so in the period before the works were complete the new ferry found temporary employment as a winter relief vessel on other crossings such as Oban – Craignure where she stood in for the Caledonia and Glen Sannox. When she eventually took over at Uig, she still had to continue using her hoist at the Skye terminal whilst the finishing touches were carried out on her new berth at the end of the long pier.

Once she settled into a new routine she became a popular member of the fleet – especially with those who used her regularly and remembered the old Hebrides. The new ferry brought vastly improved standards of passenger comfort as well as slightly reduced sailing times although most saw her largest benefit being the greatly reduced turn-round times at each pier once she was able to use her bow and stern ramps. (Incidentally she used her stern ramp at Uig and her bow visor and ramp at both Tarbert and Lochmaddy.

Over the next 15 or so years the Hebridean Isles, like her predecessor, spent almost all of her time on her intended crossings – only overhauls saw her leave the Minch, during which time relief tonnage would keep the routes open. And like her predecessor, no Sunday sailings to Harris were carried out due to objections from islanders on religious grounds.

Hebridean Isles remained on the triangle station for nearly 15 years before the inevitable happened and demand became too much for her. She was replaced in 2000 by the new Hebrides – reviving the old traditional name – and she in turn headed south for a new role as the dedicated Islay ferry, operating out of Kennacraig on the Kintyre peninsula. Her new role saw her taking over from the Isle of Arran and she sailed to Port Ellen on the south side of the island as well as Port Askaig in the Sound of Islay. On Wednesdays during the summer season she extended her morning Port Askaig sailing through to Colonsay and Oban before returning to Kennacraig in the evening, as had been the case on her particular timetable since 1989 when the Claymore operated the route.

Hebridean Isles initially worked Islay on her own however from the summer of 2003 she was joined by Isle of Arran in order to provide a greatly increased service. The two ships alternated rosters and ran mostly simultaneous departures from the mainland and island. The new setup also led to big improvements on Wednesdays as it meant that Islay was still served while Hebridean Isles headed up to Oban. The sailings carried out by Isle of Arran were subject to withdrawal at short notice if she was required elsewhere in the network to cover for breakdowns and they were advertised from the outset until 2007 as extra sailings rather than forming part of the basic service.

In 2007 though the extra sailings became encompassed in the full service provision and were no longer marked as liable for short notice cancellation. The reality was that things carried on much as they were and if there was a serious breakdown elsewhere, Isle of Arran would be called upon to go and cover, leaving Hebridean Isles to soldier on, picking up the shortfall by way of long days and on occasion sailing through the night.

In 2011 the former Uig ferry was joined at Islay by the brand new Finlaggan - the first purpose-built ferry for Islay since the Pioneer. For one summer only, in 2012 Hebridean Isles handed over the weekly Oban run to the new ferry but every summer since she has taken it as part of her duties. From 2014 onwards, all year round, Saturdays also saw a return trip to Oban (the Wednesday run operating in summer only).

With Finlaggan in place the Hebridean Isles now saw a fair bit of variety in the winter months, once again becoming part of the winter relief effort in tandem with Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan - Brodick crossing and back in her old haunts on the Uig triangle. She has also found herself dispatched to Stornoway while Loch Seaforth has been away on her overhauls, to act as back up to Isle of Lewis and to carry out freight sailings.

By 2023 and 2024 Hebridean Isles was beginning to show her age and work life, numerous cancelled sailings for repairs and refurbishment were starting to cause concern. After providing a freight only service from Troon to Brodick in January 2023, she was withdrawn from service for repairs to correct an intermittent steering issue. These repairs involved the vessel embarking on a tour of UK dry dock facilities over the coming months, with the cause of the problem proving somewhat elusive. Hebridean Isles was drydocked at Greenock, Birkenhead and Aberdeen during the course of 2023 and it was early autumn before the source of the steering fault was identified and corrected. She had missed the entire summer season and had millions spent on her in the process. Once repairs were effected she was reintroduced to service in the last quarter of 2023, for what would ultimately turn out to be her final 12 months in service.

Into 2024 and Hebridean Isles duly soldiered on, all the while her replacement was under construction in Turkey in the form of the new Isle of Islay. During her time out of service in 2023, the stricken vessel and her crew starred in an episode of BBC 'Island Crossings' where they expressed their gratitude to the ol' girl and heartwarming stories from her past. Ultimately though, time was not on her side and it was announced in August 2024 that, with her passenger certificate expiring on the 21st of November 2024, she was to be withdrawn from service due to the cost (both in terms of time and money) of keeping her in service. There was an immediate outpouring of opinion on social media; some arguing for a reprieve until the delayed Isle of Islay's arrival, others in agreement that her time had come.

The last planned duties for Hebridean Isles were on the Islay run followed by her now annual stint as Stornoway freight relief while Loch Seaforth was away for overhaul on the Mersey. CalMac had stated that they wished to 'do something' to mark Hebridean Isles' retirement in recognition of almost 40 years service. Sadly however, fate intervened and prevented this, for Isle of Arran suffered a breakdown in late September 2024, resulting in Hebridean Isles leaving Islay and stepping in to relieve at Arran, running from both Troon and Ardrossan as weather conditions dictated. Once the 'Auld Trooper' was back in service, the Hebridean Isles sailed north to Stornoway and joined her running mate Isle of Lewis, carrying out two evening and overnight return sailings for freight over the Minch. Initially it seemed that 17th October were her last passenger sailings, whilst on the Arran run, Heb Isles was to provide one last passenger run from Ullapool to Stornoway in lieu of Isle of Lewis. Eventually however, time ran out and so it was, on the morning of 17th November, Hebridean Isles left Stornoway, incidentally the route on which she first saw service 39 years earlier, and made for the Clyde, arriving at the King George V dock the following morning to await her fate. Her passenger certificate expired 3 days later and with it a career spanning almost 4 decades.

You can add your memories from her career in our forum by searching for 'Hebridean Isles - your memories'.

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