Mrs William Ross, wife of the Secretary of State for Scotland, launched M V PIONEER on 1st April 1974. She was built by   Robb Caledon Shipbuilders Ltd, Leith, where her Yard No was 515.

PIONEER, the third ship to bear the name, entered service on 14^th August on the West Loch Tarbert  – Islay route, which at that time, included calls at Gigha.

Replacing ARRAN, she quickly became a success. PIONEER had a service speed of 15.8 knots. The crossing time to Port Ellen was reduced to two hours, however she produced so much wash in the loch that her speed had to be reduced adding ten minutes to the travelling time.

PIONEER could carry thirty-two cars and 218 passengers. She was fitted with twin controllable pitch propellers, twin rudders, stabilisers and bow thrusters. A hydraulic stern ramp was in place as was two cranes situated just aft of amidships for use at conventional piers like Gigha. 

All the passenger accommodation was placed forward with twin funnels amidships. In general she resembled the two ferries, JUPITER and JUNO, which had been introduced on the Clyde.

Over the next ten years PIONEER rarely left the Islay roster. In early 1975, however, she relieved on the Oban – Outer Isles service setting a record of four hours twenty minutes for the direct crossing from Oban to Lochboisdale. In October 1977 Caledonian MacBrayne took over the terminal at Kennacraig from Western Ferries.

On 15^th February 1979 PIONEER relinquished her duties on the Islay route and sailed round the north of Scotland to the Robb Caledon yard where she was built. Her cranes were removed and in their place appeared a hydraulic hoist with four lift supports. This was to allow her to move to Mallaig where she operated on the summer only Armadale route. She served the route well, giving five double runs every day. This was to be her base for the next ten years while acting as fleet relief vessel during the winter months.

She was called upon for duties both on the Clyde and Western Isles. In the spring of 1981 she was based at Oban and sailed to Mull and the Outer Isles. During the following years she served Lochaline, Tobermory, Coll and Tiree. In 1988 she hanselled the new linkspan at Colonsay and appeared at Uig in February 1986 where she allowed COLUMBA away for repairs, and sailed on the Uig triangle to Lochmaddy and Tarbert. In the summer of 1988 she gave six peak Sunday sailings from Mallaig to Castlebay during daylight hours.

It is perhaps an indication of her versatility that she has called at all the ferry ports on the west coast apart from Ullapool and Stornoway.

PIONEER came off the Mallaig – Armadale service on 15^th June 1979 to be replaced by IONA. She sailed south, to Greenock, for more alterations. This time she had her hoists and controls removed to be replaced with side ramps.

Her role for the next five years was a spare vessel all year round. Among the more unusual duties she performed was to carry a circus to Rothesay and then carry ninety-six motor bikes and their riders to Douglas, Isle of Man for the TT Races, the regular vessel, LADY OF MANN having broken down. Next day she brought the circus back to the mainland.

She returned to the Western Isles for a spell during which time she managed a livestock run from Oban to Canna and a special cruise fro Mallaig to Canna to celebrate the opening of the pier on the island.

Back on the Clyde she was chartered to sail from Tarbert around fish farms on Loch Fyne and was the last CalMac ship to call at Kilcreggan Pier in September 1995.

In early 1998 PIONEER returned to the Western Isles and did not return to the Clyde until July. During the 1999 season she was placed on the Rothesay – Wemyss Bay run full-time.

On Saturday 11^th March 2000 The West Highland Steamer Club gathered at Largs for a Club outing on board PIONEER, which was to take around fifty members and friends “Round the Mull” to Port Askaig where they joined HEBRIDEAN ISLES on her afternoon crossing to Kennacraig and thereafter by coach to Largs via the Dunoon – Gourock ferry. As those who were on board will testify it was a very lively sail as sea conditions became quite brisk and PIONEER pitched and rolled quite considerably before shelter was found as she approached Islay.

In 2001 PIONEERS’s role in the fleet was very limited although she remained Upper Clyde relief vessel during the winter months. The Oban station was covered by CLANSMAN and LORD OF THE ISLES while LOCHNEVIS had become established on the Small Isles route.

The dawn of a new era finally arrived on Tuesday 12^th August when CORUISK appeared at Mallaig for the first time. The next day new ship undertook berthing trials at Mallaig and Armadale, sometimes getting in the way of PIONEER. CORUISK was officially named and commissioned into the fleet on Thursday 14^th and it was planned that she would replace the older ship on the service immediately thereafter. However technical problems prevented this and PIONEER continued in service. A farewell cruise from Mallaig back to Ardrossan scheduled over two days on Saturday 16^th and Sunday 17^th was cancelled.

PIONEER finally left Mallaig on Tuesday19th and returned to the Clyde.

On Sunday 31^st August The Clyde River Steamer Club organised The PIONEER Farewell Cruise. Departing from Gourock at 15.00, Club members and friends cruised through the Largs Channel, passed Millport and round Garroch Head to Tighnabruaich where she arrived at 17.30. After departing at 18.00 PIONEEER sailed up the East Kyles to Rothesay Bay where WAVERLEY was leaving for Largs. The two ships sailed together for a short while before going their separate ways. Arrival time back at Gourock was 19.45. At the end of an excellent but sad day everyone went home thinking they had travelled on PIONEER for the last time.

However fate intervened. After undertaking what had been intended to be her last passenger sailing PIONEER found herself required for service once again and on Tuesday 2^nd September she sailed direct to Mallaig to relieve CORUISK.

The new vessel lost power in one of her engines as she approached Mallaig and grounded on rocks losing one of her propulsion units.

PIONEER remained at Mallaig until November. During this time she covered for LOCHNEVIS on the Small Isles route.

Saturday 1^st November was a sad day as she carried out what was likely to be her last passenger sailng as a CalMac Vessel. The next day PIONEER sailed for the Clyde. Due to weather conditions her return to the Clyde took longer than expected and she finally arrived at Gourock on Tuesday 4^th. After unloading crew’s cars she sailed into the James Watt Dock where the house flag was lowered from the main mast and her saloon windows were plated over. Similar plates were placed over the wheelhouse windows, effectively sealing up the ship.

After an illustrious career of twenty-nine years PIONEER awaited her fate and disposal from the fleet of Caledonian MacBrayne. She was eventually sold on 19^th August 2004 to West African interests.

PIONEER is featured on the January page of the 2007 Club Calendar. She is pictured arriving at Mallaig in her Mk 2 condition on 1^st June 1985. Photo by David Parsons.

Source: Ships of CalMac/Ian McCrorie-Pioneer/Various newspaper cuttings

West Highland Steamer Club Newsletter Nos 61,68 and 69.

 

As HEBRIDES was delayed finishing her overhaul due to the conversion to burning Heavy Fuel Oil, she did not leave the Clyde until the evening of Sunday 1^st.

She sailed for Craignure where she arrived early on Monday before sailing to Oban where she took over CLANSMAN’s roster at 13.50.

ISLE OF ARRAN departed from Oban bound for Kennacraig from where she sailed for Port Ellen on Tuesday at 07.00.

By taking over CLANSMAN’s roster from LORD OF THE ISLES on Monday afternoon, this allowed LOTI to take over her own roster from ISLE OF ARRAN, allowing the latter to return to Kennacraig on Monday evening to be in position to carry out her Islay duties with HEBRIDEAN ISLES from Tuesday morning.

Passengers had to board HEBRIDES by the car deck at Oban and Coll as her gangway entrance is a few metres too far astern.

HEBRIDES and CLANSMAN returned to their normal duties on Saturday 7^th.

MERSEY MAMMOTH arrived at Port Askaig on Thursday 5^th to lift the new linkspan into place. She remained there for a week. Departure time from Port Askaig was 20.00 on Thursday 12^th.

The former Eigg flit boat, LAIG BAY has been sold to an operator in Weymouth from where she will run passenger trips to Lulworth Cove.

On Tuesday 10^th LOCH RANZA was called out to convey an ambulance to a car accident on Gigha.

Both HEBRIDEAN ISLES and ISLE OF ARRAN were very busy on Saturday 14^th carrying cattle floats to and from Islay. The lower lounge on ISLE OF ARRAN has been refurbished.

Source: Ships of CalMac www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk

Further information from Neil Guthrie, Stephen Humphreys and Iain McPherson.

 

LOCHEIL, the fourth ship to bear the name, was built for the West Loch Tarbert route to Islay, although she spent the first season sailing out of Oban. After the West Loch pier was extended she was able to take up the route for which she was built.

She followed the lines of LOCHFYNE and LOCHNEVIS but unlike the former ship she had a hold forward of the passenger accommodation with one derrick for handling cargo. Her diesel engines were connected to twin screw propellers through reduction gearing, electrical transmission being absent. A speed of fourteen knots on trials was achieved although her service speed was twelve knots.

From 1949 her sailings were extended to Colonsay on the days of her call at Port Askaig.

On 8^th October 1960 she struck submerged rocks and sank in West Loch Tarbert and did not return to service until the following March.

LOCHEIL was sold from the MacBrayne fleet in March 1970.

Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers

 

15/04/07.

 

 

Gigha’s tourist industry was given a big double boost last week.

On the day that the island’s only hotel, which has undergone a £150,000 facelift, re-opened its doors to the public, it was announced that Gigha may soon have a roll-on roll-off ferry service.

Guests were told at the opening of the hotel that moves were underway to provide the service to the island.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 5^th April. 

 

By 1877 David MacBrayne was very much in command of David Hutcheson & Co. His supremacy was challenged after The Glasgow and Inveraray Steamboat Company introduced their new ship, LORD OF THE ISLES, on the premier Loch Fyne tourist route. The new ship easily eclipsed Hutcheson’s IONA (1864) in speed and comfort.

MacBrayne approached J & G Thomson, who had just moved from Govan to a new yard at Clydebank, and asked them to build a new ship, which would outclass his rival. The shipbuilders responded magnificently and produced COLUMBA possibly the greatest Clyde steamer of all time. She was the first of the Company’s ships to be built from steel, which was at the time, still in the early stages of development. Her length of over 300 feet was not eclipsed until 1993 when CALEDONIAN ISLES appeared on the Ardrossan – Brodick route. She had deck saloons the full width of the hull. Previously they were narrow with alleyways round them. She had accommodation and fittings second to none and even carried the first floating Post Office in the United Kingdom, although this facility was withdrawn after the First World War. In addition she had a barbour’s shop.

At both Tarbert and Ardrishaig the piers had to be extended to accommodate her but once in service COLUMBA exceeded her owner’s expectations.

Many of COLUMBA’s passengers differed, particularly in August and September, from those who normally would make use of a so-called “excursion steamer”.

During this time of the year many of her passengers would be travelling to their shooting lodges and residences far north of Ardrishaig, her outward destination.

There is no doubt that COLUMBA possessed great prestige, representing the peak of daylight passenger travel and comfort. As a consequence of her popularity and distinction the route from Glasgow to Ardrishaig became known as “The Royal Route”, a name which endures to this day.

Driven by simple twin-cylinder oscillating engines she could cruise easily at 18 knots. After her four “Navy” type boilers were replaced with a pair of haystack boilers her speed increase to 19.5 knots. Her rather stumpy funnels were replaced in the spring of 1884.

During the summer months she departed from Glasgow at 07.11 for Greenock, Gourock, Rothesay, Tighnabruaich, Tarbert and Ardrishaig with connections to Islay and Oban.

During the 1915 season she was laid up and IONA operated from Weymss Bay to Ardrishaig. COLUMBA took her place in August 1916. In 1919 she resumed her sailings to Ardrishaig from Greenock and later took up her former route from Glasgow. COLUMBA was the only member of the MacBrayne fleet never to leave the Clyde.

For eight months of the year she rested at Bowling until 1929 from when she spent the winter months at Greenock.

In 1933 the London Midland Scottish Railway began negotiations over the assets and goodwill of William-Buchanan Steamers Ltd and Turbine Steamers Ltd, fleets of white-funnelled steamers sailing from Glasgow on the long-haul day excursions to Campbeltown and Inverary. Eventually, on 3^rd October 1935 David MacBrayne Ltd obtained two vessels from Turbine Steamers Ltd, QUEEN ALEXANDRA and KING GEORGE V.

This allowed David MacBrayne to withdraw COLUMBA and IONA, which was by now over seventy years old. At the end of the 1935 season they were laid up in Greenock and early the following year, amid much public sadness, they were towed to Dalmuir for scrapping. 

With a stroke of genius QUEEN ALEXANDRA was re-named SAINT COLUMBA and, as such, entered service on the summer 07.11 run from Glasgow ensuring that the Royal Route on the Clyde retained its pre-eminence.

COLUMBA is featured on the February page on the 2007 Club Calendar. Photograph by J McPhee courtesy of the J G Law Collection.

Source: Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers

Ian McCrorie-Royal Road to the Isles.

 

P S CHEVALIER was launched on Thursday 12^th April 1866 at the Govan yard of J & G Thomson. Her Yard No was 88.

CHEVALIER was built for David Hutcheson & Company. She became closely identified with the Crinan route to Oban, Fort William and Corpach.

During the First World War she was chartered to The Caledonian Steam Packet Co, Ltd for a short time. They employed her on the runs to Millport and Rothesay from Wemyss Bay.

It was on the Ardrishaig route that she came to grief on 25^th March 1927 after the starboard paddle wheel fractured in gale force conditions on passage from Tarbert to Ardrishaig. The anchors did not hold and, before any active measures could be taken, the ship drifted helplessly onto the rocks at Barmore Island. The boats were lowered and twenty passengers, mails and luggage were brought ashore at Stonefield. The vessel began to fill and was left for several days before she was towed away to Troon for examination and possible repair.

Economic repairs were not feasible and she was broken up after sixty-one years service.

Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.

 

M V ISLE OF ARRAN was launched from Ferguson Ailsa’s Port Glasgow yard (Yard No 491) on 2^nd December 1983 by Miss Joanna Younger daughter of The Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr George Younger. She entered service on the Ardrossan – Brodick route on 13^th April 1984 and was an immediate success.

ISLE OF ARRAN, the second ship to bear the name, sailed at fifteen knots. She carried sixty-two cars and 659 passengers and was the first ship in the fleet to have an invalid lift from the car deck to the passenger lounge.

She was the first ship commissioned for the company under Colin Paterson’s stewardship, but was ordered by his predecessor, John Whittle.

When GLEN SANNOX entered service on the Brodick route in July 1957 the islanders of Arran had their first dedicated car ferry. After thirteen years of loyal service GLEN SANNOX was replace by the former Swedish car ferry STENA BALTICA now re-named CALEDONIA and a re-built CLANSMAN.

While the former ship sailed on the Arran route in the winter the latter carried out the service during the summer. This was not a satisfactory arrangement, hence the urgent need for a new Arran ferry.

After ten years on the Brodick route traffic had grown to such an extent that ISLE OF ARRAN had outlived her usefulness on the service for which she was built. She was replaced by CALEDONIAN ISLES, which entered service in August 1993.

ISLE OF ARRAN was transferred to the Islay route where she replaced CLAYMORE.

Following the commissioning of HEBRIDES in 2001 it was all change again and HEBRIDEAN ISLES became the dedicated Islay vessel. ISLE OF ARRAN, by now, the oldest large ship in the fleet, became spare vessel all year round.

She has proved a versatile and valuable member of the fleet in this role having sailed on all the routes in the network apart from Mallaig – Armadale. In September 2001 she fulfilled a military charter carrying vehicles between Ardrossan and Campbeltown. In November of the same year she became second vessel, by necessity, on the Ullapool – Stornoway run carrying freight between the two ports.

ISLE OF ARRAN has returned to her old haunts on the Kennacraig – Islay route as second vessel in an enhanced summer service, which includes a run to Oban via Colonsay, while remaining as spare vessel in the winter.

ISLE OF ARRAN is featured on the December page of the 2007 Club Calendar. She is portrayed at Oban in a superb evening shot taken on 14^th January 2006. Photograph by Graham Wilson.

Source: Ships of CalMac/ Ian McCrorie-CalMacFerries

Duckworth and Langmuir-Clyde River and Other Steamers.

Iain C MacArthur-The Caledonian Steam Packet Co Ltd.

West Highland Steamer Club Newsletter No 65.

 

Caledonian MacBrayne and Jolomo to sail again!

Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne is once again turning one of its major ships into a floating art gallery, teaming up with Jolomo, Scotland’s most successful artist John Lowrie Morrison, in conjunction with Kranenburg Fine Art of Oban.

 

P S FUSILIER was launched on Saturday 14^th April 1888. She was built by J McArthur, Paisley. Her Yard No was 49.

Built for David MacBrayne, she spent most of her summers based at Oban and was the last vessel actually built for the Company in the nineteenth century. Like CHEVALIER the Caledonian Steam Packet Co chartered her during the War.

When GRENADIER was destroyed by fire in September 1927 FUSILER took her place on the Iona and Staffa excursion and the Ardrishaig route during the winter. 

With the arrival of LOCHNEVIS she became redundant and, after a short period in Ardrossan Harbour, she was sold for further trading in the summer of 1934. She was scrapped in October 1939.

Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.

 

The Sound of Harris service was disrupted by adverse tidal conditions from Monday 16^th to Friday 20^th. The following sailings were cancelled:

Monday ex Berneray 10.40 ex Leverburgh 12.05.

Tuesday ex Berneray 12.05 ex Leverburgh 13.30.

Wednesday ex Berneray 13.30 ex Leverburgh 14.45.

Thursday ex Berneray 12.05 ex Leveburgh 13.30.

Friday ex Berneray 13.30 ex Leverburgh 14.45.

Source: Caledonian MacBrayne. www.calmac.co.uk

 

HRH Princess Alexandra launched ISLE OF LEWIS on Tuesday 18^th April 1995. She was built by Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd, Port Glasgow. Her Yard No was 608.

On trial she reached a speed of 18.92 knots thus making her the fastest ever ship in the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet or its predecessors. She can carry 114 cars and 970 passengers.

Built for the Ullapool – Stornoway route, the new ferry took up service on 31^st July, settling down to a passage time of 2 hours 45 minutes, a huge improvement on the time taken by her predecessor, SUILVEN.

Day trips from Ullapool to Stornoway are now possible for the first time.

Source: Clydesite/Ian McCrorie-CalMac Ferries.

 

A study into whether Luing should have a fixed link or ferry service has come out in favour of a high-level bridge for the island.

The Strategic Transport Appraisal Group (STAG) study carried out by Atkins consultants on behalf of Argyll and Bute Council and the Scottish Executive has recommended the bridge out of three options.

The other two were either a better ferry and slipways or better ferry, slipways and improved timetable.

The report said a bridge costing up to£15m would bring the island a greater degree of economic and social benefit.

The news has been welcomed by Luing’s Fixed Link Action Group (FLAG) but the pro-ferry lobby has expressed disappointment at the outcome and said the STAG report did not take the quality of life into account.

The final report is being considered at Argyll and Bute Council’s strategic policy committee and then has to be ratified by the full Council before it is passed to the Executive.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday April 19^th.

 

22/04/07.

 

 

P S LORD OF THE ISLES, the second ship to bear the name, was launched by D & W Henderson Ltd on Saturday 25^th April 1891. Her Yard No was 357.

She was built for The Glasgow & Inveraray Steamboat Company, who placed her on the Inveraray route in competition with David MacBrayne’s COLUMBA.

LORD OF THE ISLES was a popular boat and was most successful while on the Inveraray station until the competition from Turbine Steamers, in the form of KING EDWARD, became too strong and she was taken over by that company.

Her new owners used her principally for excursions from Glasgow round Bute. She also appeared on the Glasgow – Ardrishaig mail service and the Lochgoilhead and Arrochar run also from Glasgow.

She retained her distinctive funnel colours of red and black with two white stripes until the end of her career.

By 1928 she was considered too costly to run and was sent to the breakers yard at Smith & Co, Port Glasgow.

Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-Clyde River and Other Steamers.

 

Argyll councillors threw their weight behind a campaign to retain ferry services between Tobermory, Coll and Tiree.

They suggested that the ferry should call at Craignure until the ferry terminal at Tobermory was improved.

The campaign was started after it was found that the pier was too small for the new ferry, which was being introduced on the Oban – Coll – Tiree route. Argyll councillors requested a study into new or improved ferry terminal facilities at Tobermory to allow the ferry link to continue.

It was established that the cost of modifications to the existing pier would cost £1.5 million.

Source: The Oban Times, Thursday 26^th April.

 

The Club has, once again, offered an interesting Syllabus with a good mix of Speakers drawn from both the Membership and Caledonian MacBrayne.

There is no change to the Committee as it is half way through a two-year cycle.

After the formal business was over, the Meeting was treated to a slide presentation and talk on LOCH SEAFORTH to celebrate the 60^th anniversary of this ship.

Launched by William Denny & Bros Ltd on 19^th May she entered service on the Stornoway run on 6^th December 1947.

Although LOCH SEAFORTH was very much a one-route ship (she served Stornoway until May 1972) Iain Quinn presented an excellent variety of slides while Honorary President John Whittle gave a first hand account of the sinking of the ship at Tiree Pier.

It is not often that the Club is shown slides of sunken CalMac ships. However Iain excelled himself with slides of LOCH SEAFORTH, taken by Eric Schofield who was on board CLAYMORE, at Tiree Pier where she was moored after striking rocks while passing through the Sound of Gunna.

With a floating crane towering overhead and tugs in attendance the stricken ship was raised and taken to Troon where she met her demise at the hands of the ship breakers.

John Whittle, who was General Manager of Caledonian MacBrayne at the time, was on board LOCH SEAFORTH with Moris Little, the Managing Director and Chairman of the Scottish Transport Group. They had been in Lochboisdale where they were negotiating to buy the pier from the Council.

John was asleep in his cabin and was woken by a knock on the door. He got up, opened the door, and was greeted with the news that the ship had grounded on rocks and was taking on water.

Captain Donald Gunn gave the order to abandon ship. Lifeboats were lowered and the passengers, officers and crew made their way to the safety of the shore where islanders were waiting to offer assistance. However Captain Gunn realised that the ship was still afloat and felt that she could still be saved. With a skeleton crew he returned to the ship. Meanwhile the remainder of the crew and the passengers found shelter in the island’s hotel.

LOCH SEAFORTH was towed round to the pier where desperate efforts were made to keep her afloat. Sadly it was not to be. LOCH SEAFORTH sank at her moorings and was declared a total loss.

John paid tribute, not only to Captain Gunn and his officers and crew, but also to the islanders of Tiree who rallied round to help save the ship and give shelter to those on board.

When John next went into the CalMac office in Gourock he found the staff in a dark and sombre mood. Obviously they felt the loss of a ship as keenly as those who live on the islands served by Caledonian MacBrayne.

Robin Love gave the vote of thanks.

Robin reported that the next Newsletter would be sent out to the Members in the near future. The text is finished and ready to be sent to the printers. Unfortunately it is not as easy to predict the date on which the Newsletter will be ready. In days gone by the Newsletter came out regular as clockwork every April and October. However, as Robin reported, it is not quite as easy to get hold of the shipping information.

Be assured that the Newsletter will be posted to the Membership in the near future.

The AGM concludes the 2006-07 Session. The 2007-08 Session will open on Friday October 26^th 2007.

All meeting are held in the Kirk Lounge, Renfield St Stephens Church Hall, Bath Street, Glasgow starting at 19.30 prompt.

Duncan Wilson.

 

M V LOCHEARN was launched on Thursday 29^th April 1930. She was built by Ardrossan Dockyard where her Yard No was 348. LOCHEARN entered service on 1^st August that year for David MacBrayne Ltd.

She was one of a pair of genuine sister ships the other being LOCHMOR. She entered the water at Ardrossan on 15^th May 1930.

The two sisters were not the most handsome of ships. They were not the fastest either. The service speed was intended to 12.½ knots but in fact they could only manage 9½.

In 1948 it was decided to re-engine both ships with a view to improving the speed.

LOCHEARN was normally rostered on the Outer Isles Mail service from Oban. She called at Tobermory, Coll, Tiree, Castlebay and Lochboisdale. She returned by the same route. Kilchoan was included in the itinerary until 1949.

After she was re-engined in 1948 she spent a year on the Outer Isles service form Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig before returning to Oban in 1949.

In 1955 she relieved LOCHINVAR on the Sound of Mull run and in 1964 she maintained the Mull and Morvern car ferry run along with LOCHMOR until COLUMBA took over.

LOCHEARN was sold on 26^th   August 1964 along with LOCHMOR to Greek owners. They were re-named AMIMONI and NAIAS respectively.

LOCHEARN was scrapped in January 1975.

Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.

 

T S S KING GEORGE V was built by William Denny & Bros Dumbarton Ltd and launched on Thursday 29^th April 1926. Her Yard no was 1182.

She entered service for Turbine Steamers Ltd in September 1926 and from the following season she was employed on the Campbeltown or Inveraray service, more often on the latter in connection with the Loch Eck tour.

In 1935 she was transferred to David MacBrayne Ltd and from the 1936 season she sailed from Oban on the Staffa and Iona cruise.

KING GEORGE V spent a year in the employment of Caledonian MacBrayne and was taken out of service at the end of the 1974 season.

For more information about KING GEORGE V go to the Newsletter Page and click on Newsletter No 73 April 2006. 

Duncan Wilson.

 

S S HEBRIDEAN was built by Thomas Seath, Rutherglen, for John McCallum & Co and launched on Saturday 30^th April 1881. Her Yard No was 208.

She was well suited to the Highland trade and was popular among passengers for summer cruises.

HEBRIDEAN was chartered to a Bristol firm for a while and was also sailed on charter to the Isle of Man.

After HEBRIDES (1898) entered service she became surplus to requirements during the summer and only returned to the West Highlands during the winter.

In May 1917 she was sold to Peter S Cooper, Kirkwall, re-named EXPRESS and sank on 9^th February 1918.

Source: Clydesite/Duckworth and Langmuir-West Highland Steamers.

 

Monday 30^th April 2007.

 

 

 

  

  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

.