MV Loch Ranza

MV Loch Ranza approaching Ardminish
History
United Kingdom
Name
NamesakeLochranza
OwnerCaledonian Maritime Assets Limited
OperatorCaledonian MacBrayne
Port of registryGlasgow
RouteTayinloan–Gigha
BuilderR. Dunston, Hessle, East Riding of Yorkshire[1]
Yard numberH955
Launched17 December 1986[2]
In service16 April 1987
Identification
Statusin service
General characteristics
Class and typero-ro vehicle ferry
Tonnage
Length30.2 m (99 ft 1 in)[1]
Beam10 m (32 ft 10 in)[1]
Draught1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Installed power6-cyl Volvo Penta
Propulsion2 × Voith Schneider Propellers
Speed9 kn (17 km/h)
Capacity200 passengers and 12 cars
Crew3

MV Loch Ranza (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Raonasa) is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, serving the island of Gigha.

History

MV Loch Ranza was the last of four drive-through ferries built in the 1980s by Dunston's of Hessle, to cope with increasing traffic on CalMac's smaller routes.[4]

Layout

The four vessels were based on the design of MV Isle of Cumbrae.[4] They had a second passenger lounge, on the port side, reducing the capacity of the car deck.[4]

Service

MV Loch Ranza replaced MV Rhum on the Lochranza–Claonaig crossing in April 1987. After only five years, she was replaced by the larger MV Loch Tarbert. Loch Ranza moved to the Tayinloan–Gigha crossing in July 1992, where she has remained since.[4]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MV Loch Ranza.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "MV Loch Ranza". CalMac. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  2. ^ "MV Loch Ranza". Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Loch Ranza - IMO 8519887". Shipspotting. Retrieved 7 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Loch Ranza". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 18 January 2021.