MV Portree

History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Portree
Namesake	Portree
Owner	Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Port of registry	Glasgow
Route	1965 - 1970: Kyle of Lochalsh - Kyleakin 1970 - 1986: Colintraive - Rhubodach
Builder	James Lamont & Co
Cost	£30.000
Yard number	403
Launched	10 June 1965
In service	4 July 1965
Out of service	Laid up 1986
Fate	Sold to Mr Hooper of Sandback, 4 November 1987
Notes	[1]
General characteristics
Type	Ferry
Tonnage	63 GT
Length	75.8 ft (23.1 m)
Beam	21 ft (6.4 m)
Draught	6.1 ft (1.9 m)
Installed power	i) 2 Oil 4SCSA 4 cyl. 6” x 7”; ii) “ Oil 4SCSA 6 cyl. 4 ¾” x 6”
Propulsion	i) Gleniffer Engines, Glasgow, (ii) Gardner Engines, Manchester
Speed	9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Capacity	60 passengers and 10 cars
Notes	[1]

MV Portree was a ferry, built in 1965 for the Skye crossing. In 1970, she was re-built and moved to the Kyles of Bute where she served until 1986.

History

MV Portree was built to provide additional capacity on the Skye crossing.^[1] However, the service still struggled to keep up with increasing demand. Side-loading was slow and new bow-loading vessels were ordered for Skye. In 1969, STG acquired the Bute Berthing Co. Portree was identified for service at Colintraive and underwent a lengthy re-build.^[1]

Layout

Portree was built with side ramps with angled ends and a deck-turntable. She had no passenger lounge. Her strange appearance was further increased by a forward wheelhouse, unlike previous Kyleakin ferries.

In 1970, she was converted to bow-loading, with a hydraulically operated bow ramp, hinged at three points and hanging from two long booms. She lost her side-ramps and deck-turntable and could then carry ten cars or one commercial vehicle and eight cars. Her vehicle deck was strengthened to carry 20-ton loads. The forward wheelhouse was removed and a raised navigation bridge was erected at the stern.^[1]

Service

Initially joining a fleet of small vessels at Skye, Portree was displaced by the new Lochalsh and Kyleakin in 1971. She and MV Broadford served the Kyles of Bute crossing between Colintraive and Rhubodach until the arrival of MV Loch Riddon in November 1986.^[1]

References

1. "Portree (II)". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 18 January 2021.