Signage Project – MV Lochiel

Historical Signage Project

The MV Lochiel

Built by William Denny & Brothers, of Dumbarton, the Lochiel was launched in April 1939.
Costing £62,805 to build, she was 55.95m long and 9.78m wide, with a speed of 12 knots and space to accommodate nearly 600 passengers. She was the first MacBrayne’s ship to have a cold store, enabling the carriage of refrigerated cargo.

The Lochiel loading at Port Ellen Pier c. 1950

The Lochiel served as the mail boat for Islay, Gigha, Jura and Colonsay from 1939, avoiding requisitioning during WWII. Her mast, which is now the centrepiece of this garden, was added in 1953.

On Saturday the 8th of October 1960, the Lochiel left Port Askaig heading for Craighouse, Jura. She then stopped off the northern end of Gigha, before continuing towards West Loch Tarbert Pier. There were 20 crew and 65 passengers onboard and cargo including mail, livestock and eight motor cars.

While navigating West Loch Tarbert, the Lochiel hit the Tor Turc Rock, on her port side. Water began flooding the engine room and less than a mile from the pier the engines stopped. The anchor was dropped, and the Lochiel sank bow first, approximately a quarter of a mile offshore.

Luckily as the weather was calm and the loch shallow, the main deck remained above water. All onboard evacuated safely in lifeboats.

Sailing down West Loch Tarbert

The Lochiel was eventually raised by the salvage tug Plantagenet. Once repaired, she continued the Islay route until 1970 before being sold and renamed Northwest Laird. She briefly sailed from Douglas to Fleetwood until August 1970, being replaced on the Islay route by the 1954 Clyde car ferry Arran.

In 1974, the Lochiel was acquired by the brewers Courage (Western) Ltd. and in 1978 became a floating bar in Bristol, known as the ‘Old Lochiel’. She remained popular until the business closed in 1994. The last surviving mail boat of MacBrayne’s Ltd., she was finally sold for scrap in November 1995.

Held in great affection by the Islay community, there are many on the island with Lochiel tales to tell.

An MV Loch Iall

Air a togail le Uilleam Denny ’s a Bhràithrean à Dùn Bhreatainn, chaidh an Loch Iall a chuir air bhog sa Ghiblean 1939.

A’ cosg £62,805 airson a togail, bha 55.95m de dh’fhaid innte agus 9.78m de leud, le comas siubhail aice de 12 mìle mara san uair agus le farsaingeachd gu leòr airson 600 taistealach a ghabhail. B’ i a’ chiad tè de shoithichean Mhic a’ Bhruthainn san robh stòr fhuar, ga dhèanamh comasach dhi cargu fuaraichte a ghiùlain.

Bha an Loch Iall a’ frithealadh mar bhàta postachd airson Ìle, Giogha, Diùra agus Colbhasa bho 1939, mar sin a’ seachnadh com-pàirt ann an WWII. Chaidh an crann aice, aig a bheil prìomh àite sa ghàrradh seo, a chur rithe ann an 1953.

Air Disathairne 8mh Dàmhair 1960, dh’fhàg an Loch Iall cidhe Phort Asgaig air an t-slighe gu Taigh na Creige ann an Diùra. Rinn i stad an uair sin dheth ceann a tuath Ghiogha mus do lean i oirre a dh’ionnsaigh Cidhe Loch Tairbeirt an Iar. Bha 20 neach den chriutha agus 65 taistealach air bòrd agus cargu san robh litrichean, sprèidh agus ochd càraichean.

Fhad ’s a bha i a’ dèanamh a slighe tro Loch Tairbeirt an Iar, bhuail an Loch Iall ann an Creag Tor Turc air taobh a’ phuirt dhith. Thòisich uisge a’ tuileachadh a-steach don t-seòmar einnsein agus nas lugha na mìle bhon chidhe, stad na h-einnseanan. Chuireadh an acair sìos agus chaidh an Loch Iall fodha bho a toiseach, timcheall air cairteal mhìle bhon chladach.

Gu fortanach, bha an aimsir ciùin agus cha robh an loch domhainn, agus dh’fhuirich a’ phrìomh dheic os cionn an uisge. Fhuaireadh air gach neach air bòrd aiseag gu sàbhailteachd ann am bàtaichean- teasairginn.

Chaidh an Loch Iall a thogail an ceann sreath leis a’ bhàta-slaodaidh, Plantagenet. Aon uair ’s gun deach a càradh, lean i oirre air slighe Ìle gu 1970 mus deach a reic agus a h-ath-ainmeachadh Northwest Laird. Bha i a’ seòladh airson ùine ghoirid eadar Dùbhghlas agus Fleetwood gu Lùnastal 1970, nuair a chaidh an aiseag charbadan Arran a chur na h-àite air slighe Ìle ann an 1954.

Ann an 1974, ghabh na grùdairean Courage (Western) Earranta sealbh air an Loch Iall agus ann an 1978 rinn iad bàr-seòlaidh dhith ann am Bristol, ’s i a-nis aithnichte mar ‘Old Lochiel’. Bha meas mòr oirre suas gu na dhùin an gnìomhachas ann an 1994. Mar an t-soitheach phostachd mu dheireadh aig Mac a’ Bhruthainn Earranta, chaidh a reic mu dheireadh airson fuigheall san t-Samhain 1995.

Le meas mòr aice air a chosnadh bho choimhearsnachd Ìle, tha mòran air an eilean aig a bheil seanchas ri innse mun Loch Iall.