MV Loch Bhrusda
Encyclopedia
MV Loch Bhrusda is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
ro-ro car ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne
. After 11 years operating in the Outer Hebrides
, she is the spare small vessel on the Clyde
.
on the Mersey
. Her sea trials included berthing trials at Largs and Cumbrae Slip, proving her suitable to relieve there. She started the Sound of Harris
service in 1996, but it soon became apparent that she was too small and a new vessel was required for the increasingly popular route.
Shallow water in the Sound of Harris led to the adoption of a water-jet
propulsion system, rather than the Voith Schneider units of the earlier Loch Class ferries.
on Harris and Berneray, North Uist
. The service was opened by , with Loch Bhrusda taking over on 8 June 1996. The crossing took an hour, initially connecting Leverburgh with a slipway at Otternish
on North Uist
, the departure point for the previously council-operated ferries
to Berneray. For the first few seasons, Loch Bhrusda also carried out these sailings to Berneray. When the Berneray Causeway was completed, in April 1999, linking Berneray to Otternish, the ferry's southern terminus moved to a purpose-built slipway at the northern end of the causeway. Numerous reefs litter the Sound of Harris and a specific route was marked out to ensure the ferry’s safe passage. The MCA
required that the vessel could only proceed as long as at least the next two marker buoys were visible. Delays were experienced in poor visibility.
By the end of the 1996 season, the new route was a huge success, with vehicle reservations becoming essential. A further order was placed with McTay Marine in 2002 for a much larger ferry to replace Loch Bhrusda the following season. When the new arrived in early summer 2003, Loch Bhrusda moved south to the Sound of Barra, where she replaced . This new route linked Ardmhor on the northern side of Barra
to the Isle of Eriskay
, itself linked by causeway to South Uist
.
With the introduction of at Largs, took over the Eriskay service. Since 2007, Loch Bhrusda has been the Clyde spare vessel.
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...
ro-ro car ferry operated by 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...
. After 11 years operating in the Outer Hebrides
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
, she is the spare small vessel on the 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 Loch Bhrusda was built by McTay MarineMcTay Marine
-Facilities:The McTay Marine shipyard is located at Bromborough on the South bank of the River Mersey, in the North West of England. The purpose built facilities are arranged on a site with ramped slipway facilities directly into the River Mersey...
on the Mersey
Mersey
Mersey may refer to:* River Mersey, in northwest England* Mersea Island, off the coast of Essex in England * Mersey River in the Australian state* Electoral division of Mersey in the state of Tasmania, Australian...
. Her sea trials included berthing trials at Largs and Cumbrae Slip, proving her suitable to relieve there. She started the Sound of Harris
Sound of Harris
The Sound of Harris is a channel between the islands of Harris and North Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:Approximately in width, the Sound of Harris provides the main sea passage through the Hebridean archipelago, from the Atlantic Ocean to The Minch. There are many islands and...
service in 1996, but it soon became apparent that she was too small and a new vessel was required for the increasingly popular route.
Layout
MV Loch Bhrusdas car deck provides space for 18 cars. Passenger accommodation consists of a lounge, with toilet and snack vending machine. The bridge is in the centre of the vessel, above the car deck, giving a better view than the starboard bridge of earlier vessels.Shallow water in the Sound of Harris led to the adoption of a water-jet
Pump-jet
A pump-jet, hydrojet, or water jet, is a marine system that creates a jet of water for propulsion. The mechanical arrangement may be a ducted propeller with nozzle, or a centrifugal pump and nozzle...
propulsion system, rather than the Voith Schneider units of the earlier Loch Class ferries.
Service
MV Loch Bhrusda was built for the new route between LeverburghLeverburgh
Leverburgh is the second largest village, after Tarbert, on the island of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-History:In his 30's, English businessman William Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme had taken a boat trip and fallen in love with the Western Isles of Scotland...
on Harris and Berneray, North Uist
Berneray, North Uist
Berneray is an island and community in the Sound of Harris, Scotland. It is one of fifteen inhabited islands in the Outer Hebrides. It is famed for its rich and colourful history which has attracted much tourism....
. The service was opened by , with Loch Bhrusda taking over on 8 June 1996. The crossing took an hour, initially connecting Leverburgh with a slipway at Otternish
Otternish
Otternish is the former North Uist terminal for the ferry to Berneray. The slipway lies 6 miles north of Lochmaddy. When the causeway was completed in December 1998, the slipway was no longer needed. Ancient human remains were found here in 1870....
on North Uist
North Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
, the departure point for the previously council-operated ferries
Ceann a' Ghàraidh
Ceann a' Ghàraidh is the location of the ferry terminal on the south-western side of Eriskay in the Western Isles of Scotland.-Comhairle nan Eilean Siar ferries:...
to Berneray. For the first few seasons, Loch Bhrusda also carried out these sailings to Berneray. When the Berneray Causeway was completed, in April 1999, linking Berneray to Otternish, the ferry's southern terminus moved to a purpose-built slipway at the northern end of the causeway. Numerous reefs litter the Sound of Harris and a specific route was marked out to ensure the ferry’s safe passage. The MCA
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is a UK executive agency working to prevent the loss of lives at sea and is responsible for implementing British and International maritime law and safety policy.This involves coordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majesty's Coastguard , ensuring that...
required that the vessel could only proceed as long as at least the next two marker buoys were visible. Delays were experienced in poor visibility.
By the end of the 1996 season, the new route was a huge success, with vehicle reservations becoming essential. A further order was placed with McTay Marine in 2002 for a much larger ferry to replace Loch Bhrusda the following season. When the new arrived in early summer 2003, Loch Bhrusda moved south to the Sound of Barra, where she replaced . This new route linked Ardmhor on the northern side of Barra
Barra
The island of Barra is a predominantly Gaelic-speaking island, and apart from the adjacent island of Vatersay, to which it is connected by a causeway, is the southernmost inhabited island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.-Geography:The 2001 census showed that the resident population was 1,078...
to the Isle of Eriskay
Eriskay
Eriskay , from the Old Norse for "Eric's Isle", is an island and community council area of the Outer Hebrides in northern Scotland. It lies between South Uist and Barra and is connected to South Uist by a causeway which was opened in 2001. In the same year Eriskay became the ferry terminal for...
, itself linked by causeway to South Uist
South Uist
South Uist is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,818. There is a nature reserve and a number of sites of archaeological interest, including the only location in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found. The...
.
With the introduction of at Largs, took over the Eriskay service. Since 2007, Loch Bhrusda has been the Clyde spare vessel.