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MV Finlaggan

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Arriving in Port Askaig, Islay, May 2019.
History
United Kingdom
Name
NamesakeFinlaggan
OwnerCaledonian Maritime Assets Limited
OperatorCaledonian MacBrayne
Port of registryGlasgow
RouteKennacraig - Islay
Ordered2007
BuilderRemontowa, Gdansk, Poland
Cost£25 million[2]
Launched30 June 2010
Completed2011
Identification
StatusIn service
General characteristics
TypeRo-Ro vehicle and passenger ferry
Tonnage
Length89.8 m (295 ft)
Beam16.3 m (53 ft)
Draught3.4 m (11 ft)
Deck clearance5.05 m (16.6 ft)
Installed power2 × Wärtsilä 8L32 (2 × 4,000 kW at 750 rpm)
Propulsion
  • 2x controllable pitch propellers
  • 2x Bow Thrusters
Speed
  • 16.3 knots (30.2 km/h; 18.8 mph) (trials)
  • Consumption at Service Speed: 1240 Litres per hour
Capacity
  • 550 passengers
  • 85 cars
  • 10 HGVs
Crew34
Notes[5]

MV Finlaggan (Scottish Gaelic: Fionnlagan) is a drive-through vehicle and passenger ferry built in Poland for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. From 2011, she has been operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the Islay service from Kennacraig.

History

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MV Finlaggan was built in Gdańsk for the Kennacraig - Islay route. Launched on 30 June 2010,[2] she arrived in Scotland in May 2011. During trials, she developed engine problems, forcing cancellation of the inaugural sailing.[6] She had further problems with her bow doors,[7] requiring withdrawal from service for overhaul of her hydraulic systems in Birkenhead.[8][9]

Layout

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Finlaggan is of Ro-Ro design with bow and stern ramps. She is the first CalMac ship to have "clam shell" bow doors, which open sideways.[5] The car deck is partially open at the stern and has a mezzanine deck capable of transporting an additional 18 cars.[2]

She has three passenger decks, two with external panoramic seating. There are a restaurant, shop, and two disabled lifts serving all decks. Entering through doors on the car deck, stairs provide access to a lounge with a bar/coffee shop, games room and baggage storage. A further staircase, with a statue in the middle, goes to an upper deck which has the cafeteria, a lounge with dog areas, a children's play area and televisions.[10]

Service

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Finlaggan has been the main ferry on the Kennacraig – Islay route since her introduction in 2011, partnering MV Hebridean Isles until the latter’s retirement in 2024. She replaced MV Isle of Arran, which moved back to Arran as the second vessel. During the winter months, Finlaggan often relieves on the Uig Triangle, such as for MV Hebrides' overhaul in 2013 and 2015.[2][11]

Finlaggan is due to be replaced on the Islay route by two new identical vessels currently being built in Cemre Shipyard, Turkey at the cost of £91 million.[12] The first vessel, MV Isle of Islay, is expected to be delivered in early 2025, and the second, MV Loch Indaal, later in 2025; both entering service after sea trials and crew familiarisation.[13] Finlaggan is expected to be cascaded elsewhere in the network once her replacement arrives, however the route is still to be confirmed.[14]

References

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  1. ^ "MV Finlaggan". Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "The Sea Route to Islay - The Journey to Finlaggan". CMAL. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  3. ^ a b "MV Finlaggan". Ship AIS. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  4. ^ "MV Finlaggan". Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  5. ^ a b "MV Finlaggan Information Leaflet" (PDF). Caledonian MacBrayne. Retrieved 29 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Maiden trip for new £25m ferry is delayed". The Herald. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  7. ^ Alastair Dalton (20 June 2011). "Islanders fear for economy as faulty ferry causes disruptions and anger". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  8. ^ Rita Campbell (9 July 2011). "Jinxed ferry to set sail once again after embarrassing breakdowns". Press and Journal. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  9. ^ "MV Finlaggan now arriving at Birkenhead for repairs". For Argyll.com. 21 June 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  10. ^ "CMAL take delivery of MV Finlaggan in Gdansk, Poland". CMAL. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  11. ^ "Islay Ferry". Isle of Islay. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  12. ^ "Work starts on first of two new Islay ferries". BBC News. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  13. ^ "New vessels for Islay". CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Turkish yard wins contract to build Islay ferries". BBC News. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
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