MV Loch Seaforth (1947)

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MV Loch Seaforth (1947) was a Stornoway mail boat operated by David MacBrayne Ltd. It was the second of two mail boats ordered in 1938 (the first was MV Lochiel, 1939). Built in Dumbarton by William Denny and Brothers, it was launched on 19 May 1947 and entered service on 6 December 1947, replacing SS Loch Ness on the Stornoway route. The ship was 1,126 GRT, about 69.9 meters long, 11 meters wide, with a draught of 3.40 meters. It was powered by two Sulzer diesel engines delivering 1,800 bhp for a speed of around 15 knots, with twin three-blade propellers.

Loch Seaforth was named after Loch Seaforth, the sea loch between Lewis and Harris. She mainly served the Stornoway to Mallaig/Kyle of Lochalsh route, and occasionally called at Applecross and Armadale (Skye). She became the biggest MacBrayne ship until the 1964 car ferries and earned a reputation for a few groundings, including in Kyle, Mallaig, and off Longay; the 1966 grounding left her high and dry for two days.

On 22 March 1973, Loch Seaforth ran aground on Cleit Rock in the Sound of Gunna with CalMac’s General Manager and Chairman aboard. All passengers were rescued, and she was towed to Tiree. After pumping, a bulkhead failed and she sank, blocking Tiree’s pier until 11 May. She was later lifted onto the beach, patched, re-floated, and towed to Troon for scrapping in June 1973.

In 2013, CMAL held a competition to name a new replacement ferry for the Stornoway crossing. The winning name revived Loch Seaforth for MacBrayne’s fleet, and Loch Seaforth II was built in Germany, launched in 2014 and entering service in 2015. The new vessel is a separate ship, not a direct successor to the 1947 Loch Seaforth.