M.V. ‘Clansman’
Photograph of the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry ‘Clansman’ leaving Tiree in 2001.
Courtesy of Mr Alasdair Sinclair
Ninety-nine metres in length, M.V. ‘Clansman’ is the largest vessel that can safely navigate the numerous channels at places like Gott Bay on Tiree and Arinagour on Coll. Built by Appledore Shipbuilders of North Devon in 1998, she is the fifth vessel to carry that name in the fleet.
Carrying 638 passengers and up to a hundred cars, she replaced ‘Lord of the Isles’ on the busy Coll-Tiree and Barra-South Uist routes. Calls at Tobermory on the Tiree sailings ceased as she is too large to berth at the pier there.
Although somewhat lacking in open deck space and with no overnight berths, the passenger facilities set new standards with a series of lounges, a children’s play area, room for dogs, a shop, a bar and a cafeteria and, on the top deck, an observation lounge.
Colour panoramic photograph of the M.V. Clansman in 2001.
Panoramic view of the M.V. Clansman approaching Gott Bay pier in 2001.