The Iona Island Ferry, Argyll & Bute, Scotland.
Posted by: 
greysman
N 56° 19.823 W 006° 23.468
29V E 661297 N 6245908
The MV Loch Buidhe is the ferry plying between Fionnphort on Mull and the Island of Iona.
Waymark Code: WMJ1BG
Location: Northern Scotland, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/08/2013
Views: 6
A simple concrete slipway on Iona allows the Mull ferry to berth whatever the state of the tide, but sometimes in rough weather it cannot do so. The ferry does not tie up but holds position using its motors. Both the bow and stern ramps can be lowered to permit foot passengers and cars to embark/disembark. The same arrangement applies at Fionnphort but here there is more protection from the prevailing south-westerlies. There are illuminated timetables at each port and Fionnphort sports a ticket office and waiting room, not 24hrs. Tickets can also be bought from the ferry terminal in Oban, from the ferry office in Criagnure, Mull, (in the general information building), and on the slipway to the ferry when the ferry is at the slipway, as well as on line. Toilets are available nearby at both slipways.
The ferry operating this route is the MV Loch Buidhe operated by Caledonian MacBrayne and sails a daily service which takes about 10mins. For the timetable visit:- Iona Ferry
The MV Loch Buidhe was built in 1992 specifically for the Mull to Iona route, she underwent trials on the Forth, and was delivered to the west coast through the Caledonian Canal.
On her first day in service at Fionnphort, she struck the concrete ramp, damaging one of her Voith-Schneider units. (These are the combined propulsion and directional drive systems) Repairs followed on the Clyde and she returned to service in the summer.
Her car deck can take two lanes of cars, with a passenger lounge on each side. An additional lounge straddles the car deck, towards the bow and next to the bridge producing a height restriction and reducing her suitability for use on other routes where drive-through operation for high vehicles is required. On this route high vehicles normally reverse onto the vessel, as she approaches the slips bow first allowing forward exit for them at the other slip. The additional lounge means her passenger certificate allows up to 250 passengers.
Her stern ramp was extended after a few years, to avoid the risk of passengers getting wet feet!, and making it easier for large vehicles to board from the steep slipways.
Co-ordinates given are for the Iona slipway. The Fionnphort slipway is at N°56 19.546 W°006 22.203.