MV Loch Portain
Approaching Leverburgh, Harris on 9 May 2016.
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | MV Loch Portain |
| Owner: | Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited |
| Operator: | Caledonian MacBrayne |
| Port of registry: | Glasgow |
| Route: | Sound of Harris |
| Builder: | Feniks, Gdańsk and McTay Marine, Bromborough |
| Yard number: | McTay 129 |
| Launched: | March 2003 |
| Completed: | May 2003 |
| In service: | 5 June 2003 |
| Identification: |
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| Status: | in service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | ro-ro vehicle ferry |
| Tonnage: | |
| Length: | 49 m (161 ft) |
| Beam: | 14.4 m (47.2 ft) |
| Draught: | 1.5m |
| Propulsion: | water-jet propulsion system |
| Speed: | 10.5 knots |
| Capacity: | 146 passengers and 34 cars |
| Crew: | 5 |
| Notes: | |
MV Loch Portain is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, operated by Caledonian MacBrayne, built for the Sound of Harris crossing in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.
Soon after the Sound of Harris service started in 1996 using the new vessel MV Loch Bhrusda, it became apparent that a new vessel was required. This was built, as another large variant on the successful Loch Class, by McTay Marine on the Mersey. The new ferry was named MV Loch Portain on 23 April 2003 and undertook sea trials, before arriving in North Uist on 1 June.
During January and February 2016 MV Loch Portain was fitted with a passenger lift and also 2 MES, evacuation system, 1 port and 1 starboard whilst dry docking in Birkenhead.
MV Loch Portain's car deck provides space for up to 34 cars. Passenger accommodation, above the car deck, contains several internal seating areas, forward and aft external seating areas, toilets, information boards and a basic vending machine. Her bridge, above the passenger lounge, provides a grandstand view - essential on the tortuous Sound of Harris route.
A lack of depth in the Sound of Harris led to the adoption of a water-jet propulsion system, rather than the Voith Schneider units of the other Loch Class ferries.
MV Loch Portain was built for the Leverburgh (Harris) to Berneray (North Uist) route and has operated there since 2003. MV Loch Bhrusda had started the service in 1996, but could only carry 18 cars and soon proved inadequate. Initially, the service connected Leverburgh with a slipway at Otternish on North Uist, until the Berneray Causeway opened in April 1999, when the ferry's southern terminus moved to a purpose-built slipway at the northern end of the causeway.
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Wikipedia