Transport Minister visits CalMac's smallest vessel

Transport Minister Humza Yousaf has visited the newest and smallest vessel in the CalMac Fleet, the 12 metre MV Carvoria, which operates on the Kerrera to Gallanach route, south of Oban.

Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) took over the running of the service July 2017 and the vessel, constructed for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) by Shetland-based Malakoff Ltd,  was formally handed over to operator  in August  and entered service on the route shortly afterwards.

Minister for Transport and the Islands Humza Yousaf said: "It's great to see the MV Carvoria and I hope she serves the residents of Kerrera well in the coming years. When I spoke to people on the island during a visit last year, I heard about the important role the ferry service plays in their day-to-day lives. This new vessel underlines our continued commitment to ensuring this important transport link remains resilient and reliable, along with the Scottish Government's recent investment in upgraded berthing facilities and bringing the service into the Clyde & Hebrides Ferry Services network. By having the vessel manufactured at Shetland shipyard, Malakoff Ltd, we also helped support the local economy of another important part of our island communities.

CalMac's Head of Service Delivery North, Robert Morrison , said: "MV Carvoria is the smallest vessel in our fleet and at 12m long is just over a tenth of the length of our largest vessel the MV Loch Seaforth, which operates between Stornoway and Ullapool. For the people of Kerrera, however, she is a vital lifeline and we are delighted to be part of  this important milestone in the history of the route."

MV Carvoria is  similar in design to the 'Gylen Lady', which operated on the route for more than 20 years, but offers a number of improvements, including:

•                68% increased cargo capacity

•                A wider ramp (extra 300mm) for ease of boarding cargo

•                Fixed fire fighting capability for carriage of dangerous goods to the island

•                A foldable shelter on main deck for passenger comfort in inclement weather

Kevin Hobbs, chief executive, CMAL said: "The vessel was designed and built within three months, a fantastic achievement for the teams at CMAL and Malakoff Ltd.  During the design process, we listened to feedback from the community, meaning the vessel will provide greater comfort for passengers and has enhanced capabilities to assist the thriving community on Kerrera. 

On behalf of CMAL, I would like to thank the builders at Malakoff for their supreme efforts in getting the vessel prepared for service, and we are delighted to see the vessel in service."