M.V. ‘Lord of the Isles’ being launched on Mar. 7 ‘89

This summer sees the latest addition to CalMac's fleet - M.V: ‘Lord of the Isles' on the Coll/Tiree run. Barra will also be on the schedule bringing back memories - good and bad - of the days of the old 'Claymore' when the dining room had white table-cloths, jingling silver cakestands and the fattest of kippers. Her longest serving skipper was Captain Gunn. His son, Captain Kenneth Gunn is now one of the four senior masters at the helm (do ships have helms, these days?) of the new 'Lord of the Isles'. Including Barra on the run means that the ship will be sailing continuously, night and day at certain times, hence the rota of captains and crew.

Coll piermaster, John Wheeler James and his wife, Margaret. were among the 150 guests invited by CalMac to attend the launch. The ceremony was performed in Port Glasgow on March 7 by Mrs. Rifkind, wife of the Secretary of State for Scotland. It was the first time that staff from these islands had been invited to such an event. All expenses were paid and during the sumptious meal at the Crest Hotel some of the piermasters and their wives met for the first time. As Margaret said "At last we could put faces to voices only previously heard over the radio or telephone - and also realize that our problems were not unique to Coll!"

The 'Lord of the Isles' can carry 500 passengers plus 67 cars and/or 9 thirty-eight ton lorries. She (He?) is capable of doing 16 knots and has stabilisers for the comfort of landlubbers. 18 two berth de luxe en suite cabins provide even more luxury comfort for those with the right pennies to spare and John is entirely satisfied that the length of 84.6 metres is correct. He took a measuring tape with him to the launch - to be quite sure.