MV Finlaggan

Arriving in Port Askaig, Islay, May 2019.
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Finlaggan Scottish Gaelic: Fionnlagan [1]
Namesake	Finlaggan
Owner	Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Operator	Caledonian MacBrayne
Port of registry	Glasgow
Route	Kennacraig - Islay
Ordered	2007
Builder	Remontowa, Gdansk, Poland
Cost	£25 million[2]
Launched	30 June 2010
Completed	2011
Identification	IMO number: 9482902[3] MMSI number: 235083892[3] Callsign: 2ECF2
Status	In service
General characteristics
Type	Ro-Ro vehicle and passenger ferry
Tonnage	5,626 GT[4] 740 DWT
Length	89.8 m (295 ft)
Beam	16.3 m (53 ft)
Draught	3.4 m (11 ft)
Deck clearance	5.05 m (16.6 ft)
Installed power	2 × Wärtsilä 8L32 (2 × 4,000 kW at 750 rpm)
Propulsion	2x controllable pitch propellers 2x Bow Thrusters
Speed	16.3 knots (30.2 km/h; 18.8 mph) (trials) Consumption at Service Speed: 1240 Litres per hour
Capacity	550 passengers 85 cars 10 HGVs
Crew	34
Notes	[5]

MV Finlaggan (Scottish Gaelic: Fionnlagan) is a drive-through vehicle and passenger ferry built in Poland for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. From 2011, she has been operated by Caledonian MacBrayne on the Islay service from Kennacraig.

MV Finlaggan was built in Gdańsk for the Kennacraig - Islay route. Launched on 30 June 2010,^[2] she arrived in Scotland in May 2011. During trials, she developed engine problems, forcing cancellation of the inaugural sailing.^[6] She had further problems with her bow doors,^[7] requiring withdrawal from service for overhaul of her hydraulic systems in Birkenhead.^[8][9]

Finlaggan is of Ro-Ro design with bow and stern ramps. She is the first CalMac ship to have "clam shell" bow doors, which open sideways.^[5] The car deck is partially open at the stern and has a mezzanine deck capable of transporting an additional 18 cars.^[2]

She has three passenger decks, two with external panoramic seating. There are a restaurant, shop, and two disabled lifts serving all decks. Entering through doors on the car deck, stairs provide access to a lounge with a bar/coffee shop, games room and baggage storage. A further staircase, with a statue in the middle, goes to an upper deck which has the cafeteria, a lounge with dog areas, a children's play area and televisions.^[10]

Finlaggan has been the main ferry on the Kennacraig – Islay route since her introduction in 2011, partnering MV Hebridean Isles until the latter’s retirement in 2024. She replaced MV Isle of Arran, which moved back to Arran as the second vessel. During the winter months, Finlaggan often relieves on the Uig Triangle, such as for MV Hebrides' overhaul in 2013 and 2015.^[2][11]

Finlaggan is due to be replaced on the Islay route by two new identical vessels currently being built in Cemre Shipyard, Turkey at the cost of £91 million.^[12] The first vessel, MV Isle of Islay, is expected to be delivered in early 2025, and the second, MV Loch Indaal, later in 2025; both entering service after sea trials and crew familiarisation.^[13] Finlaggan is expected to be cascaded elsewhere in the network once her replacement arrives, however the route is still to be confirmed.^[14]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to MV Finlaggan.

• MV Finlaggan on www.calmac.co.uk
• Image on the Mersey
• Pictures during construction