Laig Bay
Corpach Boatbuilders launched the M.V. Laig Bay just before Christmas 2000, designed and built for ferry operators Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. At just 10½m in length and with a passenger capacity of 28, the ‘Laig Bay’ replaces the traditional timber built M.V. 'Ulva' as the ‘Flit’ boat serving the Isle of Eigg community on the West Coast of Scotland. The role of the Flit boat has been all but superseded by modern piers and docking facilities but the Isle of Eigg has no pier and relies on the Flit boat to transfer goods and passengers to and from the schedule supply steamer, in this case the new 45m Small Isles ferry ‘Loch Nevis’.
Certification under Class VIA and Workboat Category IV dictated a fully decked hull design of all welded steel transversely framed in 50x50 angle with 5mm hull plating and one compartment flooded stability required 5 transverse bulkheads. All hull spaces thus created are voids except midships, this being the engine room containing the Mermaid Mariner 6 cylinder Ford derivative engine de-rated to 110 h.p. at 2200r.p.m.. Driving a single 3 blade bronze propeller via a PRM gearbox, the vessel can achieve 9 knots on a 14 tonne lightship and her passenger/cargo dead-weight is 5.2 tonnes. Above deck she has a small open backed wheelhouse for’d containing the fairly minimal equipment required but including GMDSS radio, compass, Wills Ridley hydraulic steering, wiper, circuit breaker electric distribution and engine controls and panel.
The vessel was launched in a 100% finished condition on the 15th December, 2000 and was on station at the Island of Eigg on the 21st December having successfully completed all owner’s and M.C.A. trials.
Tom McNeill, Technical Director for Caledonian MacBrayne said ‘Laig Bay is now in service and meets all our requirements. I must thank Corpach Boatyard for all the work they did and the speed in which they carried out the design and construction of the vessel. Caledonian MacBrayne are impressed with Corpach Boatbuilding Company and we look forward to continuing business with them.’