FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday July 10 1969

Faster ferry starts next month

The first sea-going drive-through vehicle ferry to operate within Scottish coastal waters is to be put into service on August 1, by Western Ferries Ltd., which last year pioneered the roll-on, roll-off system between Islay and the mainland.

The ship, to be named Sound of Jura, is to be built by the Norwegian shipyard of Hatlo Verksted A/s, Ulsteinvik.

It is larger and faster than the Sound of Islay, which introduced the company’s service between Kennacraig (West Loch Tarbert) and Port Askaig just over a year ago.

A third, smaller ferry, Sound of Gigha, is operated by the company, providing a connecting service between Islay and Jura.