MV Alfred

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The Alfred approaches St Margaret's Hope
History
NameMV Alfred
NamesakeAndrew Banks' (owner of Pentland Ferries) father
OwnerPentland Ferries
OperatorCaledonian MacBrayne
RouteTroon - Brodick
BuilderStrategic Marine Shipyard, Vũng Tàu, Vietnam[1]
Cost£14.5 million[2]
Laid downApril 2017[2]
Launched22 February 2019[1]
In service1 November 2019[3]
HomeportKirkwall, Orkney, Scotland
General characteristics
TypeRo-Pax Catamaran
Tonnage2,995 GT
Length84.5 m (277 ft)
Beam22 m (72 ft)
Draft2.7 m (9 ft)
Depth5.3 m (17 ft)
Installed power
  • Main engines: 4 x Yanmar 6EY17W at 749KW
  • Generators: 2 x Volvo Penta D9-MG
  • Bow thrusters: 4 x VETH VT-240 FP, each 300KW
Propulsion4 x fixed pitch propellors
Speed16 knots
Capacity
  • 430 passengers
  • 98 cars, or
  • 54 cars and 12 trucks
  • 550t deadweight
Crew12/13
Notes
  • Crew cabins:12
  • Fuel: 50,000 L
  • Fresh water: 20,000 L
  • Black water: 12,000 L

MV Alfred is a catamaran ferry owned by Pentland Ferries, currently chartered to Caledonian MacBrayne for their west coast service.[4][5]

Background[edit]

MV Alfred was built in Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, by Strategic Marine Vietnam at a cost of £14.5 million, and launched on 22 February 2019.[1][2] Designed with a capacity of 430 passengers and 98 cars, Alfred is described by their owner as the most environmentally friendly ferry in Scotland, claiming the diesel-powered ship is "more than 60 per cent more efficient in terms of fuel consumption and emission levels than other comparable ferries operating in Scotland".[6][7] In 2020, Pentland Ferries became the first ferry operator in the UK to win a Green Tourism Award for the Alfred.[7]

Upon completing sea trials, Alfred departed Vũng Tàu, Vietnam, on 29 August 2019 and arrived in St Margaret's Hope, Orkney, Scotland, on 9 October 2019,[2] entering service on the Caithness and Orkney route on 1 November 2019.[3]

Isle of Swona grounding[edit]

At about 14:00 on 5 July 2022, Alfred grounded on the uninhabited island of Swona while en route from Gills Bay to St Margaret's Hope. It resulted in damage to the port bulbous bow and no reported water ingress. There were 84 passengers and 13 crew on board at the time of grounding. Some passengers sustained injuries, such as fractures, sprains and soft tissue damage; one passenger was hospitalised.[8][9]

Alfred was refloated within one and a half hours, and taken to Orkney under her own power under escort of two lifeboats and two tugs.[10] She was taken off service until 18 July 2022.[11]

CalMac Ferries charter[edit]

In March 2023, the Scottish Government announced that it had chartered Alfred for nine months to supplement the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet, at a cost of £9 million.[12] The charter was due to start on 18 April 2023, but was delayed for a week due to MV Pentalina being unable to get her Passenger Ship Safety Certificate in time; she received a temporary one and resumed service on 26 April 2023, allowing Alfred to be released to her charter.

After completing berthing trials across the CalMac network, Alfred was laid up at Ayr in order to carry out repairs to her hydraulics system and make adjustments to her stern ramp. During this time, she was off hire from her charter.[13]

On 11 May 2023, CalMac confirmed that she had completed berthing trials at Lochmaddy, Ullapool, Port Askaig, Brodick, Ardrossan (only the Irish berth), Troon and Campbeltown. However, she could not operate out of Port Askaig at the time due to a technical issue with her starboard thruster. As a result, CalMac initially deployed her on the Ardrossan to Brodick route from 12 May 2023, carrying out two return sailings to Arran per day for the first two weeks.[14][15] After which, she began the schedule of three return sailings to Arran Friday to Monday, and two Tuesday to Thursday. From 10 August, there was an additional return sailing on Thursdays.

Alongside at Brodick, Isle of Arran, in May 2023

During September 2023, it was announced that Alfred would undergo further berthing trials in Stornoway at the end of the month, after finishing the peak summer season second vessel duties at Arran.[16] If successful, she would have carried out the freight sailings there whilst MV Arrow was unavailable and Loch Seaforth was at annual overhaul. The berthing trial was postponed as Alfred was broken down in Ayr with a gearbox problem.[17] Her berthing trials at Stornoway were unsuccessful. On 27 October 2023, CalMac assigned Alfred back to the Arran route for her next period of resilience operations beginning on 4 November 2023, releasing MV Caledonian Isles for berthing trials for services to Islay, Colonsay, Mull, Coll and Tiree.[18]

On 6 November 2023, Alfred's charter to CalMac was extended by six months to last until 21 August 2024.[19] She will also undergo ramp modifications so that she will be suitable for service to Campbeltown and Troon from Islay. Retail and catering options are also being looked at.[20]

On 8 November 2023, it was announced that due to a technical issue with MV Loch Portain, Alfred will take up service on the temporary Tarbert - Lochmaddy route.[21] On 10 November, after completing three services on the route, CalMac announced that Alfred would return to Arran for a temporary period owing to MV Caledonian Isles having a steering fault.[22]

On 18 December 2023, CalMac announced that Alfred would remain on the Tarbert - Lochmaddy service for an indefinite period of time as a contingency measure.[23] In January 2024, she returned to Ardrossan to serve Arran alongside MV Isle of Arran, relieving MV Caledonian Isles for her annual dry-docking.[24]

In February 2024, the Irish berth at Ardrossan closed permanently owing to safety concerns, forcing Alfred to operate her daily services to Brodick from Troon, initially carrying freight only.[25] From 29 March 2024, Alfred began to operate a regular passenger service from Troon to Brodick, albeit not carrying motorhomes, campervans, caravans or coaches due to infrastructure restrictions. A shuttle bus service was also introduced to connect Troon railway station to the ferry terminal.[26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Alfred takes to the water in Vietnam". The Orcadian. 25 February 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Pentland Ferries' new £14m MV Alfred arrives after 9000-mile trip". John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier. 10 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Pentland Ferries' new catamaran set to make inaugural voyage across firth". John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Chartered CalMac catamaran to begin sea trials". BBC News. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  5. ^ "85m ROPAX FERRY". Strategic Marine. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Welcome to Orkney for MV Alfred". Orkney.com. 9 October 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Pentland Ferries wins Green Tourism Award". Press & Journal. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Orkney ferry passengers launch injuries legal bid over grounding". BBC News. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. ^ Delaney, James; Bouma, Haley (5 July 2022). "One in hospital as passengers evacuated after ferry runs aground". STV News. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Passengers evacuated from grounded ferry in Pentland Firth". BBC News. 5 July 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Pentland Ferries - MV Alfred Incident". 7 July 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Extra ferry to join CalMac fleet on west coast network". BBC News. 20 March 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Further delay to Orkney's Alfred joining CalMac fleet". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  14. ^ "Customer Update - MV Alfred chartered as relief vessel for 9 months". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  15. ^ "Delayed CalMac catamaran begins sailings on Arran route". BBC News. 12 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  16. ^ "CalMac chartered catamaran ferry, MV Alfred, earmarked for Stornoway relief stint". hebrides-news.com. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
  17. ^ "CalMac's relief ferry, MV Alfred, postpones Stornoway trials". hebrides-news.com. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  18. ^ "MV Alfred leaving Western Isles area for repairs and latest deployment". hebrides-news.com. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  19. ^ "MV Alfred chartered for extra six months by CalMac". BBC News. 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  20. ^ "Customer Update: MV Alfred Customer Update". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  21. ^ "Tarbert - Lochmaddy | 10–30 November 2023". CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  22. ^ "CalMac abruptly pulls MV Alfred off Western Isles lifeline link on first day". hebrides-news.com. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  23. ^ "CalMac's chartered vessel, MV Alfred, remains in Western Isles as contingency measure". hebrides-news.com. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
  24. ^ "CalMac ferry reshuffle as MV Alfred redeployment to Clyde area releases ship for Uist relief service". hebrides-news.com. 3 January 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Ardossan's Irish berth permanently shut due to safety concerns". BBC News. 3 February 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  26. ^ "Arran: Troon - Brodick". calmac.co.uk. CalMac Ferries. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
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