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Scotland’s Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) operates the country’s largest ferry network. One of its oldest vessels, MV Hebridean Isles, has been retired after almost 40 years of unbroken service. Named after the Hebridean islands it served, the ship left Stornoway for a final time on 9 May before heading to Glasgow to be scrapped. For local residents, British ferry ships are much more than just steel and aluminium vessels. The Hebridean Isles leaves a hole in the hearts of many people who have come to regard it as a trusty and kind friend.
The ship cost £5.5m ($7.75m) when it was launched and was built outside of Scotland. The Cochrane shipyard at Selby, North Yorkshire was where the ship was given its name on a sunny day in July 1985. The Duchess of Kent was the first member of the Royal Family to name a CalMac vessel in two pioneering ways. Moreover, it has raised thousands of pounds for charities on the isolated Western Isles throughout the years and attracted a range of musicians who performed on board.
Brian Fraser, the chief engineer, urged the crew to cut back on the lights of the vessel to save energy and money. However, he received a rhyme in response that celebrated the brightness of the Hebridean Isles’ nights: “Come to the islands, see the sights/Lewis, Harris and the Heb Isles lights./Bright she is as she can be/everything’s on just come and see.” For the staff, the ship remains an endearing symbol of their shared experience among the remote islands of Scotland.
The ship was primarily deployed on the Uig Triangle, cross the Little Minch, for 15 years before moving to the Islay crossing. During its time on the crossings, the ship was transformed into a byword for comfort and reliability. While CalMac’s renditions of Scotland’s rugged west coast can still be enjoyed, the Hebridean Isles will not only be remembered as a practical workhorse, but as a cherished companion to islanders and seafarers alike
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