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MV Isle of Arran

Rach dhan eadar-theangachadh Gàidhlig dhen duileag-lìn seo: SM Eilean Arainn

CalMac's Official Fleet Page: MV Isle of Arran

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL)'s Official Fleet Page: MV Isle of Arran



Gross Tons 3296
Deadweight (Tons) 660
Length (metres) 84.92
Breadth (metres) 15.8
Draught (metres) 3.19
Cars 76
Passengers 448
Crew 20
Cost (£ million) 6.7
Knots (officially) 15
Max Knots (according to MarineTraffic.com) 17.3 MV Isle of Arran: Top left in original grey paint coat (Ships of CalMac); Top right in black paint re-coat to just below deck 4 (Ships of CalMac); Bottom left in black paint re-coat to just below deck 3 (Ships of CalMac); Bottom right in black 'step' paint re-coat (they are all in order of when the MV Isle of Arran had that coat of paint from top left to bottom right).
Year Built 1984
Builders Ferguson Ailsa Limited, Port Glasgow
Normal Routes Ardrossan - Brodick (1983 - 1993 , 2011 - 2018 (summer))
Ardrossan - Brodick / Campbeltown (2013 - 2018 (summer))
Relief (winter)
Other Routes Been On Oban - Coll - Tiree - Castlebay (2002 - 2003 , relief)
Uig - Tarbert / Lochmaddy (relief)
Oban - Castlebay / Lochboisdale (2002 - 2003 , relief)
Oban - Craignure (2002 - 2003 , relief)
Stornoway - Ullapool (freight relief)
Kennacraig - Port Askaig / Port Ellen (1993 - 2001 , 2003 - 2011 , relief)
Kennacraig - Port Askaig - Colonsay - Oban (relief)
Oban - Colonsay (2002 - 2003 , relief)


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History

The MV Isle of Arran was launched and named by the daughter of the then Secretary of State, Joanna Younger, on the 2nd of December 1983.

The MV Isle of Arran replaced the MV Glen Sannox (III), which was relieving the MV Clansman (IV), in April of 1984 due to the volume of traffic getting too high for it and getting too slow and inefficient.
This was after the MV Clansman (IV) broke down during service in March 1984, being on sale already for a year, it was then sold to a company in the Red Sea.

Initially the MV Isle of Arran's hull was painted light grey, later changed to the usual black.
The MV Isle of Arran had another re-coat of paint to change where the black ends and the white start, from just below deck 4 (like the other major vessels) to just below deck 3.
The MV Isle of Arran had yet another re-coat of paint to have the step that it has today, as seen in the picture above. This is also the same kind of paint job the MV Hebridean Isles has.

The MV Isle of Arran stayed on the Arran service for 9 years until it got replaced by the MV Caledonian Isles.

From 1993 to 2000 the MV Isle of Arran was on the Islay service replacing the MV Claymore (III), before being replaced by the MV Hebridean Isles who herself was replaced by the new MV Hebrides on the Uig triangle.

From 2001 to 2002 the MV Isle of Arran was relieving other vessels in the winter and in the summer became the third Oban vessel, in an attempt to improve services to the Western Isles.
This allowed the MV Isle of Arran to introduce the new weekly summer service going from Oban to Castlebay via Coll and Tiree, which has been continued by the MV Clansman (V).

From 2003 to 2011 the MV Isle of Arran went back to the Islay service joining the MV Hebridean Isles during summer (during winter she was on relief duty), before being replaced by the new MV Finlaggan.

From 2011 to 2013 the MV Isle of Arran has been assisting the MV Caledonian Isles on the Arran service, during summer, then relieving other vessels during winter.

Since 2013 the MV Isle of Arran has been on the same routes as the previous 3 years, but with an added new journey, Ardrossan to Campbeltown.

From 2018 the new MV Glen Sannox (IV) will replace the MV Caledonian Isles as the primary Arran vessel and in turn it will replace the MV Isle of Arran.
This will make the MV Isle of Arran the spare vessel or it may even be sold on.