MV Cowal
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
|
|
| Name: | MV Cowal |
| Namesake: | Cowal peninsula |
| Operator: | Caledonian Steam Packet Company |
| Port of registry: | Glasgow, United Kingdom |
| Route: | 1954 – 1977: Clyde service |
| Builder: |
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| Cost: | £257,960 |
| Yard number: | 480 |
| Launched: |
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| In service: | Easter 1954 |
| Out of service: | 20 May 1977 |
| Fate: | Broken up 1984 |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage: | 569 GT |
| Length: | 186 ft (57 m) |
| Beam: | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Draught: | 7.5 ft (2.3 m) |
| Installed power: | 2x Oil Atlas 2SCSA 6 cyl. 340 x 570mm |
| Propulsion: | twin screws and rudders |
| Speed: | 14 knots |
| Capacity: | 650 passengers; 34 cars |
MV Cowal was a hoist-loading vehicle ferry introduced by Caledonian Steam Packet Company in 1954. She spent the whole of her 24 years with Calmac on the Upper Clyde crossings.
MV Cowal was the second of a trio of vehicle vessels ordered in 1951 to modernise the Clyde fleet. Three "general purpose" vessels were planned for the Clyde routes of their names, MV Arran, MV Bute and MV Cowal. Built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Cowal was launched at Troon on 20 January 1954.
On 1 January 1973, the Caledonian Steam Packet Co. and MacBrayne fleets combined under one management. Cowal was the last vessel to receive the new CalMac livery, retaining the vivid CSP yellow funnel until 1974.
After 24 years' service, she was laid up in East India Harbour, Greenock from early June 1977. Surviving a galley-fire on 9 June, she was moved to the James Watt Dock in 1978 and offered for sale. Increasingly forlorn and "cannibalised" for parts to keep Arran running, Cowal was finally sold to Phetouris Ferries in Greece on 5 January 1979, and left under tow for Perama on 15 May. Despite the tow parting in the Bay of Biscay, she arrived in Piraeus, and was advertised, as Med Star, to take up service across the southern Adriatic, from Otranto to Igoumenitsa. Phetouris died in 1983 and his vision for the former Cowal and MV Bute was never progressed. Med Star was sold for scrap in December 1983, and broken up the following year.
MV Cowal was virtually identical to her older sister, MV Arran.Cowal was the first Clyde vessel to enter service with radar. Passenger accommodation consisted of a large lounge and a tearoom above, and a bar below, the car deck. The bridge was above the upper deck, allowing passengers unobstructed views forward. Officer and crew accommodation was below the bridge and at the stern. She was fitted with electric hoists and side-ramps to allow the loading of vehicles from conventional piers and at any state of tide. The 14-ton cargo lift had space for five average cars, which were turned on two 14-foot turntables on the lift and a further one at the front of the "garage". An aft cargo hold had two 7-ton derricks for cargo handling. These were removed in 1958 and the hold plated over, to provide additional car deck area.
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Wikipedia