MV Ali Cat
Encyclopedia
MV Ali Cat is a motor catamaran
passenger ferry in the Argyll Ferries Ltd
fleet, which along with provides a service from Dunoon
to Gourock
across the Firth of Clyde
.
for the Dunoon
to Gourock
service. She entered service on 21 October 2002 to run at peak times, carrying up to 250 passengers. The run had previously been served at peak times by two car ferries, one of which went down the Firth of Clyde
at quieter times to assist on the Rothesay to Wemyss Bay
service which only had a 90 minute service at peak times. Introduction of the Ali Cat for the winter 2002-03 timetable met morning and evening commuter demand on the Dunoon run, releasing the peak period car ferry to improve the Rothesay service. At first the catamaran had occasional difficulties with winter weather making embarking at Dunoon hazardous and leading to cancellations. The service was subsequently extended to cover summer timetables, and construction of a breakwater in 2004 overcame the problems at Dunoon pier.
From 30 June 2011, the Dunoon
to Gourock
crossing became a highly unreliable passenger-only service operated by Argyll Ferries Ltd
(a sister company to Caledonian MacBrayne
). Ali Cat is expected to be purchased outright and to continue to ply the route.
. A bar serves the covered accommodation, and passengers can also use the open upper deck. She can maintain a speed of 14 knots, but the service speed is around 12 knots
and Dunoon
. At special weekends in the past she has supplemented the CalMac Rothesay service.
Following the withdrawal of the Caledonian MacBrayne
Gourock-Dunoon vehicle service on 29 June 2011, Ali Cat forms part of the new contract for the passenger-only service on this route, operated by Argyll Ferries Ltd
and using the new pier at Dunoon. As well as being repainted in Argyll Ferries livery, a fold-down ramp has been added at the stern, enabling foot passenger use of the linkspan
vehicle ramps at both ferry terminals.
Catamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
passenger ferry in the Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries is a ferry company formed in January 2011 by parent company David MacBrayne Ltd to tender for the Dunoon to Gourock route. They were announced as the preferred bidder at the end of May 2011, with the service due to commence on 30 June of that year, subject to exchange of contracts on...
fleet, which along with provides a service from Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
to Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
across the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
.
History
MV Ali Cat was built in 2000 for Solent & Wightline Cruises, who chartered her to Red Funnel Line. They in turn chartered her to Caledonian MacBrayneCaledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
for the Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
to Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
service. She entered service on 21 October 2002 to run at peak times, carrying up to 250 passengers. The run had previously been served at peak times by two car ferries, one of which went down the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
at quieter times to assist on the Rothesay to Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay
Wemyss Bay is a village on the coast of the Firth of Clyde falling within the Inverclyde council area and historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The name may derive from the Gaelic uaimh, meaning 'cave'...
service which only had a 90 minute service at peak times. Introduction of the Ali Cat for the winter 2002-03 timetable met morning and evening commuter demand on the Dunoon run, releasing the peak period car ferry to improve the Rothesay service. At first the catamaran had occasional difficulties with winter weather making embarking at Dunoon hazardous and leading to cancellations. The service was subsequently extended to cover summer timetables, and construction of a breakwater in 2004 overcame the problems at Dunoon pier.
From 30 June 2011, the Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
to Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
crossing became a highly unreliable passenger-only service operated by Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries is a ferry company formed in January 2011 by parent company David MacBrayne Ltd to tender for the Dunoon to Gourock route. They were announced as the preferred bidder at the end of May 2011, with the service due to commence on 30 June of that year, subject to exchange of contracts on...
(a sister company to Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
). Ali Cat is expected to be purchased outright and to continue to ply the route.
Layout
Ali Cat is a motor catamaranCatamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
. A bar serves the covered accommodation, and passengers can also use the open upper deck. She can maintain a speed of 14 knots, but the service speed is around 12 knots
Service
MV Ali Cat provides a passenger-only service between GourockGourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
and Dunoon
Dunoon
Dunoon is a resort town situated on the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll, Scotland. It sits on the Firth of Clyde to the south of Holy Loch and to the west of Gourock.-Waterfront:...
. At special weekends in the past she has supplemented the CalMac Rothesay service.
Following the withdrawal of the Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
Gourock-Dunoon vehicle service on 29 June 2011, Ali Cat forms part of the new contract for the passenger-only service on this route, operated by Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries Ltd
Argyll Ferries is a ferry company formed in January 2011 by parent company David MacBrayne Ltd to tender for the Dunoon to Gourock route. They were announced as the preferred bidder at the end of May 2011, with the service due to commence on 30 June of that year, subject to exchange of contracts on...
and using the new pier at Dunoon. As well as being repainted in Argyll Ferries livery, a fold-down ramp has been added at the stern, enabling foot passenger use of the linkspan
Linkspan
A linkspan or link-span is a type of drawbridge used mainly in the operation of moving vehicles on and off a RO-RO vessel or ferry.Linkspans are usually found at ferry terminals where a vessel uses a combination of ramps either at the stern, bow or side to load or unload cars, vans, trucks and...
vehicle ramps at both ferry terminals.