MV Broadford

MV Broadford was a vehicle ferry, built in 1966 for the Skye crossing. Superseded by larger, drive-through vessels, she was re-built and moved to the Kyles of Bute where she served until 1986.

History
United Kingdom
Name: MV Broadford
Namesake: Broadford
Owner: Caledonian Steam Packet Company
Port of registry: Glasgow
Route:
Builder:

James Lamont & Co

Engines: Gleniffer Engines Ltd., Glasgow
Cost: £34,000
Yard number: 405
Launched: 5 October 1966
In service: 7 January 1967
Out of service: Laid up 1986
Fate: Sold 4 November 1987 to Mr Hooper of Sandback
Notes: [1]
General characteristics
Class and type: ferry
Tonnage: 63 GT
Length: 75.8 ft (23.1 m)
Beam: 21 ft (6.4 m)
Draught: 6.1 ft (1.9 m)
Installed power: Oil 4SCSA 4 cyl. 6” x 7”
Propulsion: 2 prop
Speed: 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph)
Capacity: 60 passengers and 10 cars
Notes: [1]

History

MV Broadford was built to provide additional capacity on the Skye crossing.[1] However, the service still struggled to keep up with increasing demand. Side-loading was slow and larger, bow-loading vessels were ordered for Skye.

In 1969, STG acquired the Bute Berthing Co. and MV Portree was re-built and re-engined for service at Colintraive.[1] Broadford remained for some months as spare vessel before joining her old consort on the Clyde. She underwent near-identical conversion at Lamont's but was not re-engined or shortened.

Layout

Broadford was similar to her sister, Portree. She was built with side ramps with angled ends and a deck-turntable. Unlike Portree, her navigation bridge was placed aft for greater stability and her side-ramps were hydraulically operated and were significantly wider to accommodate large vehicles. She had no passenger lounge but in 1968, a very small shelter was fitted.[1]

In 1971, she was converted to bow-loading, with a hydraulically operated bow ramp, hinged at three points and hanging from two long booms. She lost her side-ramps and deck-turntable and could then carry ten cars or one commercial vehicle and eight cars. Her vehicle deck was strengthened to carry 20-ton loads.

Service

Initially joining a fleet of older, turntable vessels at Skye, Broadford was displaced by the new Lochalsh and Kyleakin in 1971. She served with MV Portree on the Kyles of Bute crossing between Colintraive and Rhubodach until the arrival of MV Loch Riddon in November 1986.[1]

Broadford continued to ply the Clyde as Broadford Bay, a workboat without a vehicle-ramp. In 1988 she was named Boreford under the ownership of Divemex Ltd., Newtown Powys.[2] She spent much of 2004 at Renfrew harbour.

References
  1. "Broadford (II)". Ships of Calmac. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  2. "Broadford". Caledonian Maritime Research Trust. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
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