MV ''Sound of Islay'' was the first ro-ro ferry on the west coast of Scotland. Built for

Western Ferries Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd (also known as Western Ferries) is a private ferry company with its headquarters in Hunters Quay, Scotland. It currently operates on the Firth of Clyde running a year-round, high-frequency vehicle carrying service be ...

in 1968, she served Islay and later Campbeltown – Red Bay (Northern Ireland). In 1981, she was sold to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and still operates in eastern Canada.

History

In the late 1960s, the private company, Western Ferries (Argyll) Ltd - forerunner to the newer

(Clyde) Ltd - commissioned ''Sound of Islay'' from

Ferguson Brothers Ferguson may refer to: Places Canada *Ferguson Avenue (Hamilton, Ontario) *Ferguson, British Columbia *Mount Ferguson (Ontario), a mountain in Temagami, Ontario United States *Ferguson, a meteorite fall in North Carolina *Ferguson, Arkansas *Fe ...

of Port Glasgow. She was to be the first

ro-ro Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, buses, trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on and off the ship on their own wheels or using ...

ferry on the west coast of Scotland. Designed to carry 20 cars or a combination of cars and commercial vehicles on the Islay run from

Kennacraig Kennacraig () is a hamlet situated on West Loch Tarbert, a south west of Tarbert on the Kintyre peninsula, Argyll and Bute, in the west of Scotland. Ferry terminal Caledonian MacBrayne ferries sail from the terminal, on the rocky islet Eil ...

, West Loch Tarbert, she proved so popular that the state-owned MacBrayne's upgraded their own services to ro-ro. Western Ferries purchased a larger ferry, the Norwegian-built , but were unable to compete with the subsidised service and started to lose traffic. In September 1981, ''Sound of Islay'' was sold to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Between May 2007 and January 2008, she underwent an extensive refit in

Clarenville Clarenville is a town on the east coast of Newfoundland in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Clarenville was incorporated in 1951. It is located in the Shoal Harbour valley, fronting an arm of the Atlantic Ocean called Random ...

Layout

''Sound of Islay'' has a stern ramp and an open car deck aft. There are two small saloons for passengers.

Service

''Sound of Islay'' provided a new roll-on/roll-off between

in West Loch Tarbert and

Port Askaig Port Askaig ( gd, Port Asgaig) is a port village on the east coast of the island of Islay, in Scotland. The village lies on the Sound of Islay (Caol Ìle) across from Jura. Economy Port Askaig has a hotel, a petrol station and shop next to the ...

on Islay. She also made a daily call in each directions at a new link-span at the north end of

Gigha Gigha (; gd, Giogha, italic=yes; sco, Gigha) or the Isle of Gigha (and formerly Gigha Island) is an island off the west coast of Kintyre in Scotland. The island forms part of Argyll and Bute and has a population of 163 people. The climate is ...

until it was destroyed in a storm in January 1972. The service was punctual and an immediate success, soon requiring a larger vessel, ''Sound of Jura''. In May 1970, ''Sound of Islay'' commenced the Campbeltown (Kintyre) – Red Bay (Northern Ireland) service. Initial success was helped by a cement strike in Ireland and a dock strike in England. The summer-only service was daily (twice at weekends). Attempts to keep up a winter service, primarily with timber, were unsuccessful. The ship continued to operate a summer service until 1973 and spent the winter on charter. She acted as relief vessel to Islay when ''Sound of Jura'' was in drydock. In 1976, ''Sound of Jura'' was sold and ''Sound of Islay'' returned to the Islay service until 1981. In eastern Canada since 1981, ''Sound of Islay'' has served various routes, including the

Little Bay Islands Little Bay Islands is a vacant town in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It consists of Little Bay Island, Macks Island, Goat Island, Harbour Island and Boatswain Tickle Island. The highest mount is high Campbell Hill, which is located in Not ...

Notre Dame Bay Notre Dame Bay is a large bay in Newfoundland, Canada. To the south it adjoins the Bay of Exploits. The name, French for '' Our Lady Bay'', dates to at least 1550, and is possibly a French translation of an earlier Portuguese name. Trump Islan ...

and the St. Brendan's ferry. She is not built to withstand ice and has latterly acted as a relief vessel in a fleet with many ageing vessels.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sound of Islay 1968 ships Ships built on the River Clyde Ferries of Scotland Ferries of Newfoundland and Labrador