A CalMac ferry, the MV Hebrides, has been instrumental in assisting a yacht in distress near the Isle of Eigg this evening.
The vessel was observed operating alongside an RNLI lifeboat earlier today.
CalMac ferry Hebrides and a lifeboat belonging to the RNLI appear to be working together off the Isle of Eigg, some sort of incident? pic.twitter.com/xXryQrEFwG
— George Allison (@geoallison) June 1, 2023
A spokesperson for CalMac told me:
“While MV Hebrides was on passage back to Tarbert this evening, the vessel received a mayday call to assist a yacht in the area. MV Hebrides has now been released by the Coastguard and is proceeding on passage to Tarbert.”
The MV Hebrides is a major vessel in the CalMac Ferries fleet, providing a crucial link in Scotland’s maritime transportation network. Launched in 2000, this Ro-Ro (Roll-on/Roll-off) passenger ferry primarily operates on the Uig-Lochmaddy-Tarbert route, connecting the Isle of Skye with the Outer Hebrides.
With a length of 99 meters and a gross tonnage of 5,506, she can carry up to 612 passengers and 68 vehicles. Her onboard amenities provide comfort and convenience for her passengers, with facilities such as cafeterias, lounges, retail outlets, and outdoor seating areas offering panoramic views of Scotland’s stunning west coast.
Imagine the rules of the sea applied to life. When u need help everyone stops what they are doing and helps out.
They are great these Scottish armoured ferries. Very useful. The MOD should purchase some for the Gibraltar patrol.
Not sure about gib, but for sure they’d be a good fit for the RN.
These ships are over 35 years old and are falling to pieces.
Big ships, a roll on roll off would be ideal for a range of naval options.albions and bays are repeatedly mentioned in conversion conversations, but don’t last forever ours have been flogged to death and will soon start to show it.
Albions have a lot less miles on the clock as only one is fully crewed at a time.
Bay I agree are high milers and getting rid of the fourth one was stupid as they are incredibly flexible platforms.
Meanwhile the SNP aligned Green Party has shown it fully believes in using the Scottish government owned ferry service, no wait:
https://i.postimg.cc/T2gbdcTz/Opera-Snapshot-2023-06-02-134910-www-dailyrecord-co-uk.png
Salaams Farouk. I cannot understand why the Scottish Greens are openly pro- Scottish Independence. If their prime Raison d’etre is the environment then they should be politically neutral. Many Unionists support the environment. In Northern Ireland for example, the Alliance Party take a neutral stand on the Union.
The Hebrides is a great looking and capable ship. Flying the pale blue saltire as a Jack and the British Red Duster as the ensign btw
Cheers from SA
The Alliance party takes somewhat of a neutral position on the Constitutional Question as they draw votes from the small n and u and others bloc in the NI politics, for Scottish Greens, it may well be that their voters are of the opinion that they could have more influence in a Scottish Parliament than in Westminster.
Good Morning Mark. An interesting take. I have just Googled The Greens and see they have separate parties for NI and England & Wales but with the Wales segment ‘de facto ‘ on their own. From my perspective they are a bunch of lunatics although I am involved in nature conservation and environmentally friendly policies and would side with them on many green issues. As for the rest-Unilateral Nuclear disarmament, the breaking up of the UK, the replacement of the British Army with a Self-Defence Force, Woke extremism etc😮 I did not realize how radical they really are so my… Read more »
Private boat for £1200. Must have been a Sunseeker. Bet it wasn’t wind powered, for the Green SMP
Built in a short period for a little over 26 million quid in today’s money (15 million back then). Built at Fergusons.
Well done to all concerned.