MV Lochmor

MV Lochmor was a ferry operated by Caledonian MacBrayne serving the Small Isles from 1979 until 2001. Since 2009 she has operated cruises from Poole as MV Jurassic Scene.

For the 1930 Outer Isles mail steamer, see MV Lochmor (1930).
Lochmor as Lochawe
History
→
Name:
  • 1979–2001: Lochmor
  • 2001–2002: Lochawe
  • 2002–2009: Torbay Belle
  • 2009–2014: Jurassic Scene
  • 2014–2015: Gullfoss
  • 2017–2019: Sailor
Namesake: earlier Outer Isles mail steamer
Owner:
Port of registry:
Route: Mallaig to Small Isles
Builder:
Yard number: 554
Launched: 11 June 1979
In service: July 1979
Out of service: 2001
Identification:
Status: in service
General characteristics
Tonnage:
Length: 30.98 m (101 ft 8 in)[1]
Beam: 8.01 m (26 ft 3 in)
Draught: 1.7 m (5 ft 7 in)
Installed power: Twin diesel 2 × M6cy 4SA 382 kW (512 bhp)[2]
Propulsion: Twin-screw
Speed: 10 kn (19 km/h)
Capacity: 130 passengers
Crew: 6

History

Ailsa Shipbuilders of Troon won a tender in 1978 for an 84-foot (26-metre) vessel to replace the converted minesweeper, MV Loch Arkaig which served the Small Isles for 15 years.[3] Before building, the specification was increased to 102 feet (31 metres).

Layout

MV Lochmor had a raised main deck that was open at the stern for cargo. When required, there was space for two cars. Cargo loading was aided by a starboard crane. Forward, there were two passenger saloons on the lower deck, with the bridge on an upper deck. A landing platform, above the bridge, was used at the extreme low water found at Mallaig.[3]

The superstructure has subsequently been extended back to surround the funnel.[4]

Service

MV Lochmor's predecessor, Loch Arkaig sank at her berth in Mallaig in March 1979. Her place was taken by MV Arran until MV Lochmor entered service on 18 July.[3]

From Mallaig, MV Lochmor served the islands of Rùm, Eigg, Muck and Canna, as well as Armadale, Skye and Kyle of Lochalsh. She also gave cruises to Loch Duich, the Crowlin Islands and Portree. Of the Small Isles, only Canna had a pier that she could go alongside. On the other islands a ferry boat met the main ferry.

In 2001 MV Lochmor was replaced by MV Lochnevis. She was sold to Landwest Corp Ltd, Argyll and renamed MV Loch Awe. During this period of ownership by Landwest, the ship was maintained, certificated and crewed by Landwest Corporation's sister company Argyll Ferries Ltd.

From 2003 she operated as MV Torbay Belle for Brixham Belle Cruises of Paignton. In 2009 she was sold to Blue Line Cruises of Poole and renamed MV Jurassic Scene.[4] She now operates cruises on the south coast of England, from Poole.

Since 2015 the ship has operated whale watching tours out of Reykjavik. As of 2017 the vessel's name is MV Sailor.

Footnotes
  1. "Lochmor". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. "MV Lochmor". Clydesite. Archived from the original on 23 September 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2010.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. McCrorie, Ian (1980). Ships of the Fleet (2nd ed.). Gourock: Caledonian MacBrayne. ISBN 0-9507166-0-X.
  4. "Jurassic Scene". Simplon Postcards. Retrieved 15 July 2010.

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