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MV Claymore is a roll-on/roll-off vehicle and passenger ferry currently under construction for use on Caledonian MacBrayne routes on the west coast of Scotland.[4] She is the third of four ferries being built at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, and is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2025.[5] She will operate services on the "Uig Triangle" routes linking Tarbert in Harris and Lochmaddy in North Uist with Uig in Skye.[1]
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Claymore |
| Namesake | From the Gaelic claidheamh mòr, meaning "great sword"; also a name previously given to vessels serving the Hebrides |
| Owner | Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited |
| Operator | Caledonian MacBrayne |
| Port of registry | Glasgow |
| Route | Uig – Tarbert & Lochmaddy |
| Ordered | January 2023 |
| Builder | Cemre Shipyard, Turkey |
| Cost | £115 million for 2 ferries[1] |
| Yard number | NB1100[2] |
| Laid down | September 2023[3] |
| Launched | TBC |
| Status | Under construction |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Ro-Ro vehicle and passenger ferry |
| Tonnage | Deadweight: 750 |
| Displacement | 3830 |
| Length | 94.8 m (311 ft) |
| Beam | 18.7 m (61 ft) |
| Draught | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Deck clearance | 5.1 |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16.5 Knots (service) |
| Capacity |
|
| Crew |
|
A contract to build two ferries, MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal, for the Islay service was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in March 2022.[6] A £115m contract for two further ferries of a very similar design to be used on CalMac's Skye, Harris and North Uist services was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in January 2023.[7][8]
On 30 November 2023, a public competition was launched to name the two Uig Triangle vessels, with the following options available for the first:
- Eubhal — the highest peak on North Uist
- Claymore — from the Gaelic Claidheamh Mòr, meaning "great sword", and also a name previously given to vessels serving the Hebrides
- Eilean Dorcha — a Gaelic name given to Benbecula, meaning 'Dark Island' in English
- Orasay — a bay in North Uist and tidal island in South Uist
On 19 December, it was announced that Claymore had been selected as the vessel's name.[4]
Claymore will be able to carry 450 passengers, accommodating 100 cars or 14 HGVs on a partially-open vehicle deck. She will have two mezzanine car decks, one being a single lane and the other having two lanes. The lower vehicle deck will accommodate either five lanes of cars or four lanes of commercial vehicles. A single catering outlet, serving hot and cold food and drinks, will be provided on Deck 6. A children's play area will be provided on Deck 5.[9]
As is usual for CalMac major vessels, crew will sleep on board. Claymore will have 31 cabins, allowing for 4 spare cabins for training purposes, with the normal crew complement being 27.[9]
Claymore and her sister ship MV Lochmor will serve on the "Uig Triangle" routes, linking Tarbert on Harris and Lochmaddy on North Uist with Uig on Skye. The two vessels will replace the duty of a single vessel, currently MV Hebrides, providing an increase in vehicle and freight capacity on these routes, whilst enhancing the overall resilience of the wider fleet.[3] Originally, it was intended that MV Glen Rosa would serve these routes, however Glen Rosa will now serve the Isle of Arran alongside her sister ship, MV Glen Sannox, on the Ardrossan to Brodick route.[10]
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