MV Isle of Mull: Difference between revisions

|Ship image size=300px

|Ship name=*MV ''Isle of Mull''

|Ship notes=<ref name=calmac>{{cite web| url=https://www.calmac.co.uk/fleet/mv-isle-of-mull| publisher=Calmac| title=MV Isle of Mull| accessdate=25 June 2018}}</ref>

'''MV ''Isle of Mull''''' ({{lang-gd|An t-Eilean Muileach}}) is one of the larger [[Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited]] ferries operated by [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] from [[Oban]] on the west of [[Scotland]].

However the new vessel was seriously overweight – by more than 100 tons – due to both design and steel supply, British Steel had installed a new computerised gauge control at its Dalzell Plate production unit, and during the initial production of steel plate after its introduction it tended to produce plates still within the allowed manufacturing specification, but at or near the upper gauge allowed in the tolerance – resulting in the steel tending to be heavier than designed.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

In late autumn 1988, she was taken out of service for two weeks and sent to Tees Dockyard Ltd in Middlesbrough to be lengthened by {{convert|5.4|m|ftin|abbr=on}}. The extent of this implant can most easily be observed when climbing the stairs from the car deck to the passenger accommodation. These stairs used to be a single flight, but now have a level section halfway up. The new length of hull made the vessel better both in terms of vehicle capacity (taking it to around 80) but also in that she handled better at sea with her overall speed increased slightly.<ref name=ships>{{cite web| url=http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/ships-1/isle-of-mull|title=MV Isle of Mull| publisher=Ships of Calmac| accessdate=15 January 2021}}</ref>

In the late 1990s, she underwent internal refurbishment. Her cafeteria was redecorated and the serving area modified – setting the standard for the rest of the fleet. The shop was moved to a more prominent position in the entrance concourse and she received new seating covers etc.<ref name=ships/> The ''Isle of Mull'' underwent another major refurbishment in 2005. The cafeteria was redesigned with a new service area layout, including self-service tea and coffee machines and was renamed the Mariners Cafeteria. A coffee bar was installed in the viewing lounge at the after end of the ship opposite the doors leading out to the open deck which overlooks the rope handling area of the ship and is named the Coffee Cabin. The bar haswas also been renamed The Still.

MV ''Isle of Mull'' has operated the crossingservice between [[Oban]] and [[Craignure]] on the [[Isle of Mull]] since 1988.<ref name=ships/> She completes the sailing in 45 minutes on a good day, although the short turnaround and poor manoeuvrability in even light winds lead to frequent delays and increasingincreased cancellations.{{Citation needed|date=October There2022}} is some flexibility with additionalAdditional sailings are provided by {{MV|CoruiskLoch Frisa||2}}, introduced in June 2022. ''Isle of Mull'' also provides one of 4four weekly ferriescrossings between the mainland and the island of [[Colonsay]] in winter, this being the Monday sailing, and has provided winter relief on a various routes, such as between [[Ullapool]] and [[Stornoway]] from 1989 to 1998, covering for overhauls of [[MV Suilven|MV ''Suilven'']] & [[MV Isle of Lewis|MV ''Isle of Lewis'']] and between [[Ardrossan]] and [[Brodick]] in 2007. In October 1989, her larger passenger capacity was required at Stornoway for those travelling to the Mòd. This meant she basically swapped places with the ''Suilven'', which took over the Oban-Craignure service for 10 days.