MV Coruisk approaching Wemyss Bay |
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| Career (UK) | |
|---|---|
| Name: |
MV Coruisk |
| Namesake: | Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Cuillin of Skye |
| Owner: | Caledonian MacBrayne |
| Operator: | Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited |
| Port of registry: | Glasgow |
| Route: | Rothesay to Wemyss Bay relief in winter |
| Builder: | Appledore Shipbuilders, Bideford, Devon[1] |
| Cost: | £6 750 000 |
| Yard number: | 190 |
| Launched: | 3 May 2003[2] |
| Completed: | 2003 |
| In service: | 14 August 2003 |
| Identification: | IMO number: 9274836[3] Callsign: VQKF2 |
| Status: | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | ro-ro vehicle ferry |
| Tonnage: | 250 DWT[2] |
| Length: | 65 m (213 ft 3 in)[1] |
| Beam: | 14 m (45 ft 11 in)[1] |
| Draft: | 3.05m |
| Installed power: | Machinery: 6M20 each rated at 1000kW @ 1000 rpm |
| Propulsion: | Two Schottel Rudder Propellers type STP 1010 |
| Speed: | 14 knots |
| Capacity: | 249 passengers and 40 cars |
MV Coruisk is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 2003, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and serving the west coast of Scotland.
Contents |
Following her launch at Appledore's yard in early 2003, MV Coruisk left on her delivery voyage on 2 August. She carried out berthing trials on the Clyde, before taking over the Mallaig to Armadale route on 14 August. She was officially named at Armadale by Baroness Michie at a special ceremony.[4]
Initial technical problems required MV Pioneer to resume the service for some time. On 24 August, Coruisk lost power and struck a reef at Mallaig harbour entrance, losing one of her propulsion units. She went to the Clyde for repairs and did not return to Mallaig that season. The following winter season at Dunoon, was only slightly more successful, with slow berthing and many passenger complaints.[4] Subsequent seasons have been less eventful. A temporary modification is made for the winter seasons to accommodate the gangways at Wemyss Bay and Rothesay.
MV Coruisk's design is unique.[4] As well as bow and stern ramps, allowing drive-through operation, she also has a port side ramp, allowing side-loading on the Clyde in winter months. The bow ramp is protected by an open visor, similar to those found on Orkney and Shetland inter-island ferries. Clearance on the car deck is 5.1m.[4]
Above the car deck are two passenger decks, one containing the main lounge areas with toilets and a small shop/kiosk. A small external deck area on the same level, both fore and aft of the lounges, has stairways leading to the open deck above. Crew accommodation is on the upper deck. Sitting even further up, the bridge gives the master a view down over bow and stern.
Schottel electric azimuth thrusters incorporate rotating pods protruding beneath the hull, with two propellers on each. Although similar to Voith Schneider units, the vessel proved much harder to control and manoeuvre.
MV Coruisk provides the Mallaig to Armadale service in summer. She relieves on the Upper Clyde in the winters, while MV Lochnevis adds Armadale to her Small Isles roster. Since 2011, when the company's Dunoon service became passenger-only, Coruisk only relieves at Rothesay.