MV Eigg
Encyclopedia
MV Eigg is a car ferry built for Caledonian MacBrayne
in 1974. She is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
and has operated mostly on the Oban
to Lismore
route since 1976.
In 1999 MV Eiggs wheelhouse was raised to provide an unobstructed view. At the same overhaul, she was given the livery of the rest of the fleet, with a black hull, becoming the most easily identified Island Class ship.
crossing from Portree
on Skye, bringing vehicle capability to the route. Replaced by her sister, in January 1976, Eigg began her career as the Lismore
ferry.
In 1996 Eigg became the Kilchoan
ferry (from Tobermory on Mull
). She had a IIA passenger certificate and, when required, was able to provide livestock runs between Mallaig
and the Small Isles
. Her relief vessel was or .
In 1999 she once again became the dedicated Lismore vessel and has remained there.
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...
in 1974. She is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited owns the ferries, ports, harbours and infrastructure for the ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary.CMAL is wholly owned by the Scottish Government, with Scottish Ministers as sole shareholders.-History:Until...
and has operated mostly on the Oban
Oban
Oban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
to Lismore
Lismore, Scotland
Lismore is a partially Gaelic speaking island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This fertile, low-lying island was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, with a monastery founded by Saint Moluag and the seat of the Bishop of Argyll.-Geography:...
route since 1976.
Layout
The eight Island Class ferries, built between 1972 and 1976, were a very simple design, based on World War II landing craft. They had a two-part folding ramp at the bow, an open plan car deck incorporating a small turntable immediately aft and a sheltered area of passenger accommodation at the stern. The wheelhouse was above the passenger accommodation and the main mast above the ramp at the bow. A radar mast sat on top of the bridge, just forward of the small funnel and engine exhaust.In 1999 MV Eiggs wheelhouse was raised to provide an unobstructed view. At the same overhaul, she was given the livery of the rest of the fleet, with a black hull, becoming the most easily identified Island Class ship.
Service
MV Eigg entered service in 1975, on the RaasayRaasay
Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland. It is separated from Skye by the Sound of Raasay and from Applecross by the Inner Sound. It is most famous for being the birthplace of the poet Sorley MacLean, an important figure in the Scottish literary renaissance...
crossing from Portree
Portree
Portree is the largest town on Skye in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. It is the location for the only secondary school on the Island, Portree High school. Public transport services are limited to buses....
on Skye, bringing vehicle capability to the route. Replaced by her sister, in January 1976, Eigg began her career as the Lismore
Lismore, Scotland
Lismore is a partially Gaelic speaking island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. This fertile, low-lying island was once a major centre of Celtic Christianity, with a monastery founded by Saint Moluag and the seat of the Bishop of Argyll.-Geography:...
ferry.
In 1996 Eigg became the Kilchoan
Kilchoan
Kilchoan is a village on the Scottish peninsula of Ardnamurchan, in Lochaber, Highland. It is the most westerly village on Great Britain, although several tiny hamlets lie further west on the peninsula .Kilchoan has a population of about 150.-History:Donaldson equates 'Buarblaig' Kilchoan (Cille...
ferry (from Tobermory on Mull
Isle of Mull
The Isle of Mull or simply Mull is the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland in the council area of Argyll and Bute....
). She had a IIA passenger certificate and, when required, was able to provide livestock runs between Mallaig
Mallaig
Mallaig ; is a port in Lochaber, on the west coast of the Highlands of Scotland. The local railway station, Mallaig, is the terminus of the West Highland railway line , completed in 1901, and the town is linked to Fort William by the A830 road – the "Road to the Isles".The village of Mallaig...
and the Small Isles
Small Isles
The Small Isles are a small archipelago of islands in the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland. They lie south of Skye and north of Mull and Ardnamurchan – the most westerly point of mainland Scotland.The four main islands are Canna, Rùm, Eigg and Muck...
. Her relief vessel was or .
In 1999 she once again became the dedicated Lismore vessel and has remained there.