New Oban ferry takes Mid Argyll road trip
A NEW CalMac ferry arrived by road in Argyll this week.
The ferry, for CalMac’s new Oban-Kerrera route, was taken from Aberdeen to Argyll on Wednesday August 16 via Perth, Stirling, Balloch, Inveraray, Lochgilphead and from there to Oban. MV Carvoria was recently completed for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) by Shetland boatbuilder Malakoff Limited of Lerwick.
Malakoff confirmed the transport truck left Aberdeen at 9.30am and headed to Perth for an expected midday arrival, before travelling to Stirling and the A811 to Balloch, up the A82 and Loch Lomond to Tarbet, then continuing on the A83 through Inveraray, passing through Lochgilphead just after 4.30pm, before taking the A816 north to Oban. The 12metre long MV Carvoria will replace the MV Gylen Lady.
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL said: ‘The order for the new vessel MV Carvo- ria comes hot on the heels of the investment in port infrastructure at Kerrera last year.
‘The replacement of the mainland slipway at Gallanach was accompanied by a replacement slipway and new breakwater on Kerrera at a cost of nearly £2million.
‘We are confident these recent investments will give the lifeline island transport links a boost, improving passenger experience and furthering the resilience of the service.’