Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne | |||
MV Isle of Mull in Oban Bay | |||
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Caledonian MacBrayne commonly known as Calmac is the operating company for Scottish Ferries in the Clyde and Hebrides. It is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, and can trace its route back to companies nationalised in the immediate post-war era, either with the railways in 1948, or in 1973 when the state finally took full control. The origins of the company lie with David MacBrayne, who operated steamers on the Clyde and further afield in the Victorian Era, subsequently building up a substantial complimentary fleet of buses and lorries for onward carriage of passengers and goods. The Caledonian part of the name comes from the Caledonian Steam Packet Co, a company connected with the Caledonian Railway which operated steam ships and later other vessels, predominantly on the Clyde. The CSP was nationalised in 1948, at which point MacBraynes was half owned by the LMS Railway, thus giving the state a 50% share, with the private Coast Lines holding the other 50%.
Services Today
Over the years the growth of road transport has seen many of the early steamer routes abandoned, particularly the long distance ones starting in the Clyde, and the coast hopping ones such as Oban to Fort William. Pleasure cruises such as day trips from Oban to Iona and Staffa have also been left to private entrepreneurs, with Calmac concentrating on the lifeline ferry services. Bridges too have seen the number of ferry routes dwindle a little, but Calmac still serve 25 islands with a complicated roster of around 30 routes.
Routes
Route | IMO | Main Vessel | Sailing Time | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ullapool - Stornoway Ferry | MV Loch Seaforth | 2hr 30 | Also operates overnight freight service | |
Uig-Harris Ferry | 9211975 | MV Hebrides | 1hr 40 | 'Uig Triangle' |
Uig - North Uist Ferry | 9211975 | MV Hebrides | 1hr 45 | 'Uig Triangle' |
Sound of Harris Ferry | 9274824 | MV Loch Portain | 1hr | Timetable varies due to tides |
Mallaig - Lochboisdale Ferry | 8710869 | MV Lord of the Isles | 3hr 30 | reduces to 3 days a week in winter |
Oban - Lochboisdale Ferry | 8710869 | MV Lord of the Isles | 5hr | Winter only |
Sound of Barra Ferry | 9147722 | MV Loch Alainn | 40mins | |
Oban - Barra Ferry | 9085974 | MV Isle of Lewis | 4hr 45 | MV Clansman visits on Summer Wednesdays via Coll / Tiree |
Raasay Ferry | 9652832 | MV Hallaig | 25mins | |
Small Isles Ferry | 9209063 | MV Lochnevis | varies | Complicated roster visits Rhum, Eigg, Muck and Canna at least twice a week all year; all vehicles need permit |
Mallaig - Armadale Ferry | 9006411 | MV Loch Fyne | 35mins | Supported by Lord of the Isles in Summer, and reduced winter timetable operated by MV Lochnevis |
Coll and Tiree Ferry | 9158593 | MV Clansman | 2hr 40 (Coll) 3hr 50 (Tiree) |
Ferry continues to Barra on Summer Wednesdays |
Kilchoan - Tobermory Ferry | 9039389 | MV Loch Tarbert | 35mins | |
Lochaline to Fishnish Ferry | 9652844 | MV Lochinvar | 18mins | |
Oban - Craignure Ferry | 8608339 | MV Isle of Mull | 50mins | Supported by MV Coruisk in Summer |
Lismore Ferry | 8512293 | MV Loch Striven | 55mins | |
Kerrera Ferry | MV Carvoria | 5 mins | route taken over by Calmac in 2016; all vehicles need permit | |
Iona Ferry | 9031375 | MV Loch Buie | 10mins | all vehicles need permit |
Oban - Colonsay Ferry | 9158593 | MV Clansman | 2hr 15 | Assisted by Isle of Mull in Winter |
Islay - Colonsay Ferry | 8408412 | MV Hebridean Isles | 1hr 10 | Summer only service; 2 days a week |
Islay Ferry | 9482902 | MV Finlaggan | 1hr 55 (Port Askaig) 2hr15 (Port Ellen) |
Reverts to Port Askaig in poor weather; supported by Hebridean Isles in Summer |
Gigha Ferry | 8519887 | MV Loch Ranza | 20mins | |
Tarbert - Portavadie Ferry | 7521625 | MV Isle of Cumbrae | 25mins | Does a daily run to Lochranza, Arran in Winter |
Claonaig - Lochranza Ferry | 9759862 | MV Catriona | 30mins | Summer only |
Kyles of Bute Ferry | 9006409 | MV Loch Dunvegan | 5mins | |
Wemyss Bay - Rothesay Ferry | 9319741 | MV Bute | 35mins | Also MV Argyle |
Cumbrae Ferry | 9376919 | MV Loch Shira | 5mins | Supported by MV Loch Riddon in Summer |
Ardrossan - Brodick Ferry | 9051284 | MV Caledonian Isles | 55mins | |
Ardrossan - Campbeltown Ferry | 8219554 | MV Isle of Arran | 2hr 40 | Supports above and also sails to Campbeltown at Weekends in Summer |
Former Routes
Route | IMO | Main Vessel | Sailing Time | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Scalpay Ferry | 5mins | Replaced by Bridge in 1997 | ||
Vatersay Ferry | 5mins | Passenger only service; Replaced by Causeway in 1991 | ||
Kyle of Lochalsh Ferry | 5mins | Replaced by Bridge in 1995 | ||
Mallaig - Stornoway Ferry | Also stopped at Portree and Kyle of Lochalsh | |||
Portree Service | Various routes called at Portree until 1980s | |||
Oban - Tobermory | Stop included on Coll/Tiree service until 1980s | |||
Gourock to Dunoon Ferry | 20mins | ceased in 2011 when Western Ferries took over as sole vehicle carrier. Passenger only service now operated by Calmac subsidary Argyll Ferries |
In addition, there were many different combinations of routes operated on the Clyde in the past, including direct links between Bute and Arran, and services originating from Gourock.