Western Ferries

Pictures of past and present members of this fleet are shown here, together with a brief description of each vessel.

Click on the link below to see a picture of each ferry. It will open in a new window. To return to this page, just close the picture.

Sound of Islay The company's very first ferry, built in 1968 by Ferguson's at Port Glasgow. She introduced roll on/roll off services to Islay from a new terminal at Kennacraig in West Loch Tarbert. She also operated a service from Campbeltown to Red Bay in Northern Ireland during the early 1970's. Later she was used for general charter work, and is seen while on such duty having some time off at Rothesay. After the Sound of Jura was sold in 1976, she returned to the Islay service, remaining there until September 1981. She was later sold to Canadian owners, and is still believed to be in operation, still bearing her original name.

Sound of Jura Following the success of the Sound of Islay, Western Ferries had a larger drive-through ferry (the first in the UK) constructed in Norway. Larger and faster, she was introduced on to the Islay service in 1969. After the Scottish Transport Group placed the new Pioneer on their Islay service, she was the victim of a reduction in traffic, and was eventually sold to Mexican owners in 1976. She was renamed Quintana Roo.

Sound of Shuna The first vessel to join the Clyde fleet and was acquired second-hand in 1973. Originally built in Sweden in 1962, she was towed across the North Sea to Inverness, before proceeding under her own power through the Caledonian Canal, and round to the Clyde. Under her original name, Olandssund IV, she made a brief call at Hunter's Quay to test the newly-installed linkspan there, before proceeding to Greenock for conversion to meet British regulations. She inaugurated the Clyde service in June 1973, and was in regular use until the introduction of the new Sound of Scarba in May 2001. Latterly, she was too small, capable of carrying only around 25 cars, although in the early 1980's she was heightened to allow her to handle higher commercial vehicles. After a period of lay-up in the Holy Loch, she was sold in January 2003.

Highland Seabird In 1976, Western Ferries took delivery of a high-speed catamaran, the first of her type to be seen in the UK. Her first season was spent on the Clyde, before moving to a new base at Oban in 1977. From there she ran services to Fort William, Mull, Iona, and Ireland. She spent her winters either on charter work or laid up. During March 1980 she spent a few days on charter to Sealink, operating to the Isle of Wight. A further charter in 1982 saw her spent some time based on the Mersey. Further charters around the UK followed, before she was sold out of the fleet in March 1985. She operated in the Channel Islands as Trident 2, later being transferred to other French owners.

Sound of Sleat This ferry was purchased from the Netherlands in 1988. Previously running across the New Waterway near Rotterdam, she was converted to meet British regulations at Troon, before entering service in October that year. For many years, she was the mainstay of the service, proving capable of operating in all weathers. She is now the only Voith-Schneider driven ferry in the fleet. Capable of carrying about 30 cars, she retains her original side ramps, although they have never been used on the Clyde.

Sound of Scalpay The first of two sister ferries, bought from Amsterdam City Council in 1995. She was completed refitted by Garvel-Clyde at Greenock before entering service in July, 1995. Her transformation to become a member of the WF fleet included removal of her existing diesel-electric machinery, installed when she was built in 1961. Caterpillar engines were fitted, and for propulsion, an azimuth drive unit was fitted at each end. These provide a high degree of manoeuverability. Her entry into service allowed the former Sealink ferry Sound of Seil to be retired. She is capable of carrying around 34 cars.

Sound of Sanda The other ex-Amsterdam ferry, which entered service for Western Ferries in the summer of 1996. Almost identical to her slightly older sister, she was built in Germany in 1963. Like the Sound of Scalpay she was refitted mechanically, with the same machinery being installed.

Sound of Scarba The Company's new ferry, seen here on the morning of March 12th, prior to her launch at Ferguson's shipyard at Port Glasgow. She ran trials on 25th April, clocking up an impressive 11.9 knots over the Skelmorlie measured mile, and also performing berthing trials at McInroys Point and at Hunters Quay. Handed over on Tuesday, 1st May, 2001 she entered service on Friday, 4th. The following evening she gave a short cruise for guests of the Company, and there are pictures of that cruise here. On the same page, there are a number of internal views of the new ferry.