MV Coruisk

Arriving at Craignure from Oban, 8 May 2017.
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Coruisk Scottish Gaelic: Coir' Uisg'
Namesake	Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Cuillin of Skye
Owner	Caledonian Maritime Assets
Operator	Caledonian MacBrayne
Port of registry	Glasgow
Route	Oban–Craignure (summer) Wemyss Bay–Rothesay (winter relief)
Builder	Appledore Shipbuilders, Bideford, Devon[3]
Cost	£6.75 million[2]
Yard number	190
Launched	3 May 2003[2]
Completed	2003
In service	14 August 2003
Identification	IMO number: 9274836[1] Callsign: VQKF2 MMSI Number: 235008929
Status	in service
General characteristics
Class and type	ro-ro vehicle ferry
Tonnage	1,559 gt[2] 250 DWT
Length	65 m (213 ft 3 in)[3]
Beam	14 m (45 ft 11 in)[3]
Draft	3.05 m (10 ft 0 in)
Installed power	Machinery: 6M20 each rated at 1000kW @ 1000 rpm
Propulsion	Two Schottel Rudder Propellers type STP 1010
Speed	14 kn (26 km/h)
Capacity	250 passengers and 40 cars[4]
Crew	12

MV Coruisk (Scottish Gaelic: Coir' Uisg') is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ferry built in 2003, operated by Scottish ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne and serving the west coast of Scotland.

History[]

Following her launch at Appledore's yard in early 2003, Coruisk left on her delivery voyage on 2 August. She carried out berthing trials on the Clyde before taking over the Mallaig to Armadale route on 14 August. She was officially named at Armadale by Baroness Ray Michie of Gallanach at a special ceremony.^[2]

Initial technical problems required MV Pioneer to resume the service for some time. On 24 August, Coruisk lost power and struck a reef at the Mallaig harbour entrance, losing one of her propulsion units. She went to the Clyde for repairs and did not return to Mallaig that season. The following winter season at Dunoon was only slightly more successful, with slow berthing and many passenger complaints adding to her worsening reputation. ^[2] Subsequent seasons have been less eventful. A temporary modification is made for the winter seasons to accommodate the gangways at Wemyss Bay and Rothesay.

Layout[]

The design of Coruisk is unique.^[2] As well as bow and stern ramps, allowing drive-through operation, she also has a port side ramp, allowing side-loading on the Clyde in winter months. The bow ramp is protected by an open visor, similar to those found on Orkney and Shetland inter-island ferries. Clearance on the car deck is 5.1 metres (16 feet 9 inches).^[2]

Above the car deck are two passenger decks, one containing the main lounge areas with toilets and a small shop/kiosk. A small external deck area on the same level, both fore and aft of the lounges, has stairways leading to the open deck above. Crew accommodation is on the upper deck. Sitting even further up, the bridge gives the master a view down over bow and stern.

Schottel electric azimuth thrusters incorporate rotating pods protruding beneath the hull, with two propellers on each. Although similar to Voith Schneider units, the vessel proved much harder to control and manoeuvre.

Service[]

Until 2016, Coruisk was the sole vessel on the Mallaig to Armadale service in summer, relieving on the Upper Clyde in winter (when MV Lochnevis adds Armadale to her Small Isles roster). Since 2011, when the company's Dunoon service became passenger-only, Coruisk mainly relieved at Rothesay. During the winter period, Coruisk often provides a support service for the Argyll Ferries service from Gourock to Dunoon.^[5] In March 2014 she ran into the pier at Dunoon sustaining serious damage but managed to make her own way to Greenock to be assessed for repairs.^[6]

From 2016 to 2022, Coruisk became the second ferry on the Oban–Craignure route alongside MV Isle of Mull during the summer timetable period.^[7] She was replaced at Mallaig for the 2016 season by the much smaller MV Lochinvar, MV Loch Bhrusda and MV Lord of the Isles (in between the latter's Lochboisdale–Mallaig sailings). This reshuffling of the Mallaig fleet has been largely criticised by campaigners calling for Coruisk to remain at Mallaig with MV Lord of the Isles.

In January 2017, it was announced Coruisk would remain on the Oban–Craignure route for a second summer season: the Skye crossing being operated by MV Lord of the Isles and MV Loch Fyne. That arrangement is expected to continue^[8] until MV Glen Sannox enters service on the Ardrossan to Brodick ferry crossing in late 2021 and Hull 802 enters service on the Uig Triangle in summer 2022. In December 2021, it was announced Coruisk would return to Mallaig in summer 2022 when she is expected to be replaced at Craignure by MV Loch Frisa.^[9]

References[]

External links[]

Media related to MV Coruisk at Wikimedia Commons