MV Lochmor (2024)

This article is about roll-on/roll-off vehicle and passenger ferry currently under construction for Caledonian MacBrayne. For other ships, see MV Lochmor.
History
United Kingdom
NameLochmor
NamesakeMV Lochmor
OwnerCaledonian Maritime Assets Limited
OperatorCaledonian MacBrayne
Port of registryGlasgow
RouteUig – Tarbert & Lochmaddy
OrderedJanuary 2023
BuilderCemre Shipyard, Turkey
Cost£115 million for 2 ferries[1]
Yard numberNB1101[2]
Laid downTBC
StatusUnder construction
General characteristics
TypeRo-Ro vehicle and passenger ferry
TonnageDeadweight: 750
Displacement3830
Length94.8 m (311 ft)
Beam18.7 m (61 ft)
Draught4 m (13 ft)
Deck clearance5.1
Propulsion
Speed16.5 Knots (service)
Capacity
  • 450 passengers
  • 100 cars or
  • 14 HGVs
Crew
  • 27 crew
  • 27 crew cabins + 4 trainee cabins

MV Lochmor (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Mòr) is a roll-on/roll-off vehicle and passenger ferry currently under construction for use on Caledonian MacBrayne routes on the west coast of Scotland.[3] She is the fourth of four ferries being built at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, and is expected to be delivered in the final quarter of 2025.[4] She will operate services on the "Uig Triangle" routes linking Tarbert in Harris and Lochmaddy in North Uist with Uig in Skye.[1]

History

A contract to build two ferries, MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal, for the Islay service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in March 2022.[5] A £115m contract for two further ferries of a very similar design to be used on CalMac's Skye, Harris and North Uist services was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in January 2023.[6][7] First steel for the final vessel was cut in September 2023.[8]

On 30 November 2023, a public competition was launched to name the two Uig Triangle vessels, with the following options available for the second:

  • Pioneer — a name previously given to a vessel serving a similar routes in the 1980s
  • Lochmor — a name previously given to vessels that served ports of the Little Minch between 1930 and 1964
  • Scotasay — a small island just off the east coast of Harris
  • Clisham — the highest mountain in the Outer Hebrides, located in Harris

On 19 December, it was announced that Lochmor had been selected as the vessel's name.[3] This will be the third ship to hold the name. Consequently the formal designation will be Lochmor III.[citation needed]

Layout and facilities

Lochmor will be able to carry 450 passengers, accommodating 100 cars or 14 HGVs on a partially-open vehicle deck. She will have two mezzanine car decks, one being a single lane and the other having two lanes. The lower vehicle deck will accommodate either five lanes of cars or four lanes of commercial vehicles. A single catering outlet, serving hot and cold food and drinks, will be provided on Deck 6. A children's play area will be provided on Deck 5.[9]

As is usual for CalMac major vessels, crew will sleep on board. Lochmor will have 31 cabins, allowing for 4 spare cabins for training purposes, with the normal crew complement being 27.[9]

Service

Lochmor and her sister ship MV Claymore will serve on the "Uig Triangle" routes, linking Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist with Uig on Skye. The two vessels will replace the duty of a single vessel, currently MV Hebrides, providing an increase in vehicle and freight capacity on these routes, whilst enhancing the overall resilience of the wider fleet.[8] Originally, it was intended that MV Glen Rosa would serve these routes, however Glen Rosa will now serve the Isle of Arran alongside her sister ship, MV Glen Sannox, on the Ardrossan to Brodick route.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "Two New Vessels for the Little Minch". Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Preference for Green Renewal of New CMAL vessels is Cemre Shipyard once Again!". Cemre Shipyard. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Names chosen for new Western Isles ferries". BBC News. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  4. ^ Kevin Hobbs (CMAL) (30 September 2024). "Update on New Vessels for Islay & Little Minch" (PDF). Scottish Parliament. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Two New Ferries for Islay Reach Next Construction Milestone". Caledonian MacBrayne. 13 January 2023. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Names announced for new Islay and Jura ferries". BBC News. 18 May 2023. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Contract Finalised for Two New Ferries for The Little Minch". Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. 3 February 2023. Archived from the original on 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Little Minch ferries reach major construction milestones". Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. 20 September 2023. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Information on New Vessels" (PDF). Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. 24 November 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  10. ^ "Competition Launched to Name Dual Fuel Ferry". Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). 2 August 2023. Retrieved 2 August 2023.