SS Hebrides

SS Hebrides in her early years
Career (UK)
Name: SS Hebrides
Owner:

1898: John McCallum, Glasgow
1930: McCallum, Orme & Co., Glasgow

1955: David MacBrayne Ltd
Route: Hebrides
Builder:

Ailsa Shipbuilding Company

Engines by A. & J. Inglis
Yard number: 70
Launched: 24 March 1898[1]
Homeport: Glasgow
Fate: Broken up at Port Glasgow
General characteristics
Tonnage:585 GRT
Length:180 ft (54.9 m)
Beam:28.1 ft (8.6 m)
Draught:13.2 ft (4.0 m)
Installed power:Triple expansion steam
Propulsion:single screw
Speed:12.8 kn (trials)[2]

SS Hebrides was a passenger and cargo ship which operated in the Western Isles of Scotland. Built in 1898 for John MacCallum, she became part of the fleet of David MacBrayne Ltd, serving St Kilda until 1955.

History

Hebrides was the only cargo ship owned by John MacCallum. Built in 1898, she had passenger cabins and also offered leisurely summer cruises round the Western Isles. She was reboiled in 1937. Taken over by MacBrayne's in 1948, she survived in their fleet until the arrival of Loch Ard in 1955.[3]

Hebrides was scrapped at Smith & Company, Port Glasgow.[2] The ship's bell was in the foyer of the Harris Hotel, Tarbert for 20 years and is now on display in the lounge of the present CalMac ferry MV Hebrides.[4]

Service

John MacCallum operated his own routes in the area generally covered by MacBraynes. Hebrides provided a service to St Kilda.[5] During the Second World War, she was chartered to MacBraynes, sailing between Oban and Tiree.[2] She assisted at the evacuation of Soay and took part in a similar duty at St Kilda.[6] In her final years, she carried cargo and livestock only on her old route from Glasgow, on alternate runs with Loch Frisa.[2]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "SS Hebrides". Clydesite: Shipping Times. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "March 2007 news". West Highland Steamer Club. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  3. ↑ Neil F King. "Loch Skiport". Flickr. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  4. ↑ "SS Hebrides". Clydebuilt. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  5. ↑ Rev. R.L. Lawson. Flight to St Kilda. Maybole. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  6. ↑ "History - Hebrides". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 22 April 2011.

External links