CalMac’s decommissioned MV Hebridean Isles awaits final voyage to breakers yard
18 November 2024
MV Hebridean Isles (Heb Isles) is laying up in Glasgow awaiting final orders.
The long serving Caledonian MacBrayne ferry is temporarily resting at King George’s
V dock by Braehead.
Soon she will let go her ropes again for her last ever voyage, relocating to an unnamed
breakers yard.
Her owners, Scottish Government agency, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) are
working on securing a suitable yard.
King George’s V dock doesn’t operate a recycling facility so the vessel cannot be
broken up there. As she flies the Red Ensign and there will be no change of state
registry, she is required to be scrapped up at an approved site named on a list under
the UK Ship Recycling Regulations.
Her 39 years of faithful service ended last week while the ship was deployed as relief
cover on the Stornoway - Ullapool freight service. Repeated delays with MV Loch Seaforth
returning from drydock meant an extended stay for the Heb Isles in Lewis. Friday
was expected to be her last day of active duty but that was brought forward due to
adverse weather.
On the bridge of the Hebridean Isles, her ship’s logbook records the last sailing
of active service in Stornoway on Thursday afternoon when a line of vehicles rumbled
off the linkspan and her ramp drew up for the last time. A group of foot passengers
unexpectedly found themselves aboard for what would be her final commercial trip
when a decree reserving the ferry for haulage and commercial traffic only had been
relaxed and she helped clear a backlog of traffic after a 24-hour breakdown of MV
Isle of Lewis left people stranded in Ullapool.
Craig Ramsay, CalMac’s fleet management director, said: “MV Hebridean Isles’ planned
disposal marks the latest step in a period of significant change for CalMac, which
will see the rapid modernisation of our fleet of major vessels by 2026.
“If the Heb Isles were to be retained, she would require a significant programme
of work in overhaul due to her age and general condition and this would keep her
out of service for months.”
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL, said: “Our plan to bring six new major vessels
to the network by the end of 2025 is well underway, and with two of them headed for
the Islay route, it’s time to retire the Hebridean Isles. She’s been one of the most
flexible vessels on the network, having served almost every route at some point in
her distinguished career."
“Given her age and general condition, significant works had already been identified
for overhaul were she to enter it. This, plus the requirement for a mandatory five-year
survey, means the vessel would have spent a large period in drydock, certainly missing
the bulk of the winter timetable.”
MV Hebridean Isles sailing up the Clyde to a lay-up berth this morning