FLEET
HISTORIES - Suilven |
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The Fleet
Suilven
History |
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The new shorter route to the Northern Outer Isles was becoming ever popular
with both tourist and commercial traffic and the aging, lengthened and
underpowered Clansman was struggling to
keep up with the pace in 1973. It was obvious that another vessel was needed for
the Stornoway crossing. CalMac always on the look
out for second hand vessels as well as new, came across a Norwegian built ferry
and announced on the 12th December 1974 announced that they had acquired her,
and named her Suiven after a mountain on
Lewis. She was originally intended for a service across the Oslofjord in the
country of her builders. To be named Basto VI she and her sister ship Basto V
were designed to take 120 - 180 cars, ample enough for the Lewis crossing. Her
Norwegian owners had problems with the twins new terminal length and had to put
her up for sale while she was still on the stocks. |
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With her sister layed-up and
herself left with just the keel laid in the yard, CalMac jumped at the chance of
an inspection of her completed sister. It was found that to increase capacity
vehicles were loaded onto a lower deck under the main deck via lift ramps. This
space usually filled with bilge and ballast equipment would not be accepted by
the British Safety Standards Board. Along with being below the fire line it was
known that these were required to fill the entire beam of the ship and not just
the side compartments that Basto V had. Along with a few minor standards across
the ship it was decided that the time and cost would be far greater than could
be allowed. They then turned to the keel of her twin sister - now this was a
better option, a few design changes here and there and hey presto! |
BASTǾ V at Moss |
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She was
completed in a three way contract between her builders, the Norwegian ferry
operator and CalMac to the fit the new British safety standards. After a brief
stall when the electrical contractors striked, she made the crossing of the
North Sea to her new home on the western seaboard of Scotland and Gourock on the
19th August - in no way her longest crossing of her career to come! |
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On arrival
at the company HQ onlookers were outstand by her sheer size for a vessel in the
fleet at that time. Calling briefly at Oban to 'show the flag' she took over
from the grateful Clansman on the 27
August 1974. Very much a state of the art vessel for her time, she set new
standards for the Lewis service and was to remain there for most of her career
with the company. When entered service she had the highest vehicle capacity in
the fleet which was well utilised on the Stornoway service which attracted heavy
numbers of commercial traffic. She settled down to operated two crossings per
day in summer reducing this to mainly one during the quieter winter periods. She
berthed bow in at Stornoway and stern at Ullapool - a tradition that continues
today. There wasn't many faults with the proud new ship but she did now and
again have the tendency to switch one of her engines to reverse through her
complex electrical controls - resulting in a circular motion. This was quickly
rectified by experts from the German company who fitted them in the vessel
originally. |
Later in her career covering at Lochmaddy |
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The Norwegians also designed her with a combined passenger / catering / bar
saloon which didn't really suit the new passengers requirements and a screen was
erected to cordon off different areas. Later in her career she was fitted with
stabilisers at a annual overhaul at Greenock which gave passengers an even
smoother ride across the sometimes choppy Minch. |
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She worked
to a pretty tight timetable in her lifetime with CalMac, she was given 3 1/2
hours to complete the passage and a 1/2 hour to turn around and return back. In
1979 the single day winter crossings were increased to two return sailings per
day (except Sabbath Sundays) to keep up with the amounts of traffic she was
generating. Traffic levels had grown so much in fact that she had to offer two
more single returns per week. These were carried out on Tuesday and Thursday
evenings in the off season. Nothing much changed as she continued her set pace
back and forth from Stornoway except the timings between 1981 - 1984 but these
settled down after the latter and she got back into place serving the most
northern route in the network. Relief's before 1983 were always carried out by
her predecessor the 1964 Clansman until
1984 when the new Isle of Arran was
used along with the winter relief from
Hebridean Isles in 1985. While on
another annual overhaul in 1983 she was the first ship in the fleet to have
'Caledonian MacBrayne' fixed to her side with huge white metal letters. She was
also fitted with aircraft style seating (including the lifejackets!) in her
lounge along with being carpeted through out. She also interestingly became one
of the official all weather ships supplying metrological information to the Met
office. |
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Up until 9th of October 1989 she had not served on any other route apart
from her much loved Lewis roster. However the Isle of Mull's extra passenger
capacity was required for a National Mod gathering in the Hebridean town and
until the 15th of October she switched places with her on the Oban - Craignure
crossing and joined the Pioneer to
make up capacities. This was not her only wander however, as she was sighted at
Lochmaddy, Tarbert and Uig in a short space of time. Sadly for most of the folk
that came to lover her on the crossing she was much suited to she had become a
victim of her own success and a replacement was drawn up and entered service as
the Isle of Lewis in 1995.
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Berthing at Craignure, Mull. |
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The ships dramatically passed each other in Loch Broom on respective first and
last days in service. However it was not all over for the faithful fleet member
and her seaworthiness was quickly spotted by another respectful company in New
Zealand, so yet another epic chapter in her stared career was about to begin.
Strait Shipping vowed to keep her name and Suilven made her way under her own
power to the other side of the world. She was destined to sail between
Wellington and Nelson between the north and South Islands of New Zealand and
lasted there for many happy years - respected as much as she was in cooler
Scottish waters. Her last sailing from Wellington to Nelson began on the morning
of 26 March 2004, and she returned to Wellington on 27th March for lay-up at
Aotea Quay whilst air-conditioning units were fitted for yet another new
venture. She had again become a victim of her on success and was sold onto Bligh
Water Shipping, of Suva, Fiji, a new shipping company with no previous ships.
They are to trade as Suilven Shipping, and that name was painted on the port
side of the ship in large white letters to replace the previous Strait Shipping
logo. |
Passing her replacement, Isle of Lewis in Loch Broom near
Ullapool.
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Her registry was changed from Wellington to Suva on 16th April 2004, and she
sailed from Wellington as Suilven in the late afternoon of 16th April 2004 on a
five day voyage to Suva. She is to retain her name Suilven a tribute to her
successful career. She was initially planned to sail with up to four hundred
passengers on a regular service between Suva (on Viti Levu), Savusavu (on Vanua
Levu) and the island of Taveuni, about 150 kilometres east of Savusavu. Other
routes may be also considered later. Her voyages continue to provide lifeline
services, albeit to slightly different islands from her original role! However
her current owners, crew and passengers look after her with the same respect
that Western Isles folk did on her dedicated route. It is now possible to enjoy
the finest local cuisine available onboard her whilst she ply's her trade around
Fiji - even a barbeque on deck! May 2005 saw her one year celebration working
for Suilven Shipping, a event that the company hopes to see again for her
continuing years. Recently fitted with new large air-conditioning units and a
continuing internal and external refurbishment her career looks set for a while
to come.
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Showing her Seaworthiness, hitting heavy swell
exiting Wellington Heads 6 February 2002. |
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Its pleasing to know that such a wonderful ship with such a character is still
making her way in the world as a successful 'new' vessel for many companies and
is being well treated for her service. Long many her career continue... |
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More Interesting Pictures In Service: |
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Passing Duart Castle, Isle of Mull. |
Alongside another new 1974 vessel, Pioneer at
Craignure. |
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Text thanks to SoC Crew (C)
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SUILVEN
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