MV Caledonian Isles at Gourock pierhead |
|
| Career (UK) | |
|---|---|
| Name: | MV Caledonian Isles |
| Owner: | Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited |
| Operator: | Caledonian MacBrayne |
| Port of registry: | Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| Builder: | Richards Shipbuilders, Lowestoft |
| Yard number: | 589 |
| Launched: | 25 May 1993 |
| Christened: | 25 May 1993 by The Princess Royal |
| Maiden voyage: | 25 August 1993 |
| Status: | in service |
| Notes: | IMO number: 9051284 Callsign: MRAB8 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 5221 tonnes |
| Length: | 94 m |
| Beam: | 15.8 m |
| Draft: | 3.2 m |
| Installed power: | approx 700HP |
| Propulsion: | Bow Thruster: Caterpillar Diesels |
| Speed: | approximately 15 knots (28 km/h) |
| Capacity: | 1,000 passengers, 110 cars |
| Crew: | 26 |
| Notes: | [1] |
MV Caledonian Isles is one of the largest ships owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. Caledonian MacBrayne operates ferries in the Hebridean and Clyde Islands of Scotland. MV Caledonian Isles serves the Isle of Arran on the Ardrossan to Brodick route. As it is one of CalMac's busiest routes, Caledonian Isles has the largest passenger capacity in the fleet, and can carry up to 1000 passengers and 110 cars, with a crossing time of 55 minutes. She is used extensively by daytrippers to the Isle of Arran during the summer.
Modelled on the popular MV Isle of Mull of five years earlier, Caledonian Isles incorporates a fully enclosed car deck with watertight ramps at either end. When closed, the bow ramp seals the car deck and when open, forms the bridge between the ship and the linkspan. The car deck incorporates a set of mezzanine decks, one down each side of the central casing and each divided into three sections. These can be moved up and down to their deployed or stowed positions. When deployed, these allow additional cars to be loaded. If the mezzanine decks are fully deployed there is insufficient height to accommodate lorries etc. other than at the bow and stern. The central casing means that she can only carry one lane of commercial vehicles down each side of the car deck.[2]
The passenger accommodation is similar to that onboard the Mull ship. Forward of the main entrance square is the cafeteria, with stairways leading up to the observation lounge and the outside deck. Aft of the entrance there are lounges down either side with toilet blocks, the shop and a bar lounge further towards the stern. The next deck up has the forward observation lounge at the bow and crew accommodation. An open deck extends right around the vessel on this level, including forward of the observation lounge and overlooking the bow. The upper deck has the bridge and outside seating from the huge red funnel towards the stern. Also on this level are the four enclosed lifeboats – 2 larger and 2 smaller boats mounted on davits.[2]
She is usually berthed overnight at Ardrossan. She makes several crossings a day in both directions, leaving Ardrossan at 0700, 0945, 1230, 1515 and 1800, and leaving Brodick at 0820, 1105, 1350, 1640 and 1920. During the period of the summer timetable there is an additional sailing on Friday evenings leaving Ardrossan at 2030, returning from Brodick at 2140.[3] Between 2005 and 2010 the peak summer service was been supplemented by MV Saturn. In adverse weather MV Caledonian Isles can be delayed or diverted to Gourock, and will berth at Brodick omitting the 1920 evening sailing and the following morning 0700 sailing from Ardrossan.
When the vessel is busy, particularly during the peak summer season, the scheduled turnaround time is insufficient to allow loading/unloading and the Caledonian Isles frequently runs behind schedule during these months.
Sailings are met at Ardrossan by the First ScotRail train service to Glasgow Central from Ardrossan Harbour.
