{{Short description|Ferry built in 1974}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=The Stornoway ferry off Ullapool - geograph.org.uk - 1552974.jpg |image_caption=MV ''Suilven'' off [[Ullapool]] }}
|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= |flag= |name=MV ''Suilven'' |namesake=[[Suilven]] |owner= |operator=*1974: [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] *1995: [[StraitNZ|Strait Shipping]], New Zealand *2004: Bligh Water Shipping, Fiji *2015: Venu Shipping, Fiji<ref name="Venu">{{cite web| url=http://fijisun.com.fj/2015/03/18/ferry-starts-sailing-from-natovi-today/| title=Ferry Starts Sailing From Natovi Today| accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref> |registry=*1974: {{flagicon|United Kingdom|civil}}: [[Glasgow]], United Kingdom *1995: {{flagicon|New Zealand|civil}}: [[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]], New Zealand *2004: {{flagicon|Fiji|civil}}: [[Suva]], Fiji |route=*[[Stornoway]] to [[Ullapool]] 1974–1995 *[[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]] to [[Picton, New Zealand|Picton]] 1995–2002 *[[Wellington Harbour|Wellington]] to [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] 2002–2004 *Around [[Fiji]] 2004–2015 |ordered= |builder=*[[Moss Verft|Moss Rosenberg]] of Norway *Engine Builders:[[Wichmann Diesel|Wichmann]], Norway |yard_number=180 |way_number= |laid_down= |launched=19 April 1974<ref name=ships/> |completed= |christened= |acquired=1974 |in_service=27 August 1974 |maiden_voyage= |out_of_service= July 1995 (with Caledonian MacBrayne) 2004 (with Strait Shipping) 2015 (with Bligh Water Shipping) November 2015 (with Venu Shipping Limited) |identification=*{{IMO Number|7383487}}<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.digital-seas.com/vessel_search/vessel_details/on/3dys_suilven_q25806.html?tx_fleetmonportal_pi1%5Bposition%5D=2| title=Vessel Search - Suilven| publisher=Digital Seas| accessdate=25 September 2011}}</ref> *MMSI Number: 512000060 (NZ); 520090000 (Fiji)<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=203261| title=Suilven - IMO 7383487| publisher=Shipspotting| accessdate=25 January 2011}}</ref> *Callsign: GULA; 3DYS (Fiji) |fate= Sunk in [[Suva]] harbour, 24 November 2015 |notes= }}
|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |tonnage=1980 |displacement= |length={{cvt|86.52|m|ftin|frac=2}} |beam={{cvt|16.03|m|ftin|frac=2}} |height= |draught={{cvt|4.96|m|ftin|frac=2}} |depth= |decks= |power=2 × 7-cyl, [[Wichmann Diesel]] 1300 kW <ref name="ships"/> |propulsion= 2 × variable-pitch propellers & 2 × Brunvoll SPK300 bow thrusters |speed={{cvt|16|kn|km/h}} (service) |capacity=500 passengers, 120 cars |crew=25 |notes= }} }}
'''MV ''Suilven''''' was a vehicle ferry built in 1974 and operated for 21 years by [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] on the [[Ullapool]] to [[Stornoway]] route. She subsequently operated in New Zealand and later in Fiji.
==History== The vessel was originally ordered by Norwegian shipping company [[Alpha (shipping company)|Alpha]] as the twin of ''Bastø V''. Alpha operated the [[Moss–Horten Ferry|Moss–Horten]] crossing of the [[Oslofjord]]. ''Bastø V'' had been ordered as a much larger vessel than the current fleet, and was intended to be a workhorse on Alpha's own line for the summer peaks, and leased out for the winter. Alpha's board decided in 1972 to order a twin for delivery from Moss Rosenborg Verft in 1974. This ship was not intended to run on the Moss–Horten route, but was instead intended to be sold for a profit. In the mean time the [[1973 oil crisis|oil crisis]] hit, and Alpha struggled to find a buyer.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ryggvik |first1=Helge |last2=Søilen |first2=Espen |year=1992 |title=Bastøfergen: Fra damplekter til brikke i pengespillet |publisher=Gokstad |location=Sandefjord <!--|isbn=82-922786-0-0 correct according to book, but gives check-sum error--> |language=Norwegian |url=https://www.nb.no/items/1a9d3f20f8817b0fcdf762486d1b0e28 |page=41}}</ref>
CalMac was struggling with the popularity of the shortened route to the [[Outer Hebrides]], between Stornoway and Ullapool, which was being served by 1964 {{MV|Clansman|1964|6}}. A deal was stuck with Alpha. By then, ''Bastø V'' was already in service, while ''Sullivan'' was still on the stocks. This allowed CalMac to inspect the completed ferry. They found that she would not meet British standards requirements, particularly since the design called for a car deck under the main car deck, which would be below the fire line. But since building had hardly begun, it was possible to order her with the necessary modifications.<ref name=ships>{{cite web| url=http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/ships-1/suilven| title=''Suilven''| publisher=Ships of Calmac| accessdate=18 January 2021}}</ref>
''Suilven'' was named after the mountain peak [[Suilven]] in Sutherland . She was bought off the stocks in 1974 and modified to comply with British standards for the Lewis service.<ref name=ships /> She remained on the route until 1995, when she was replaced by the larger {{MV|Isle of Lewis}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/staff/irmurray/ferries4.asp |title=Caledonian MacBrayne - Former Vessels (and Other Steamers) |publisher=Iain Murray |accessdate=25 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526053802/http://www.computing.dundee.ac.uk/staff/irmurray/ferries4.asp |archivedate=26 May 2011 }}</ref>
==Design== The car deck featured two lanes either side of the central casing and featured two hoistable mezzanine decks for additional car capacity. Car deck access was via a two-piece bow ramp and visor, with a single piece stern ramp. The superstructure featured a foremast above the wheel house carrying the radar scanners and aerials, and a main mast aft incorporated into the forward edge of the funnel, cleverly concealing the main engine exhausts. Her original single lounge bar saloon was soon divided with a screen to cordon off different areas. The cafeteria and servery was situated aft of the saloon and in common with vessels of the time, she was fitted out with a number of sleeping berths allowing passengers to embark the night before an early departure.
Early in her Caledonian MacBrayne career, she was fitted with stabilisers, improving stability. ''Suilven'' was the first vessel in the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet to carry the fleet branding on the hull side in large steel letters, welded to the hull side. Air conditioning was fitted for her service in Fiji.<ref name=ships/>
==Service== ''Suilven'' was purchased for the [[Stornoway]] to [[Ullapool]] route, a replacement for the 1964 {{MV|Clansman|1964|6}}. She operated the route for 21 years, giving two crossings per day in summer reducing, until 1979, to one in winter.<ref name=ships/> In October 1989, {{MV|Isle of Mull}}'s larger passenger capacity was required for those travelling to the [[Mòd]] in Stornoway. For those 10 days, ''Suilven'' took over the Oban-Craignure service.<ref name=ships />
By the 1990s, she was increasingly inadequate for the traffic on the service and unacceptably slow and the larger MV ''Isle of Lewis'' was built, offering superior capacity and facilities, entering service in July 1995.
No longer required in Scotland, she was sold to [[StraitNZ|Strait Shipping]], for service between the North Island and South Island of New Zealand.<ref name=ships/> In 2004, she was moved to Fiji and operated between [[Suva]], [[Savusavu]] (on Vanua Levu) and [[Taveuni]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.blighwatershipping.com.fj/| title=Bligh Water Shipping| accessdate=25 January 2011| archive-date=9 February 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209123514/http://www.blighwatershipping.com.fj/| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>Crossing the Cook Strait ''[[Ships Monthly]]'' July 2022 page 66</ref>
In August 2012, ''Suilven'' was advertised for sale and expected to be sold as scrap for demolition; however, in late 2012, it was reported that Ben Naidu, owner of Venu Shipping, had acquired the ship for refitting and further service in Fiji, for an undisclosed sum. It was believed that, for the first time in her history, the ship would be renamed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fijisun.com.fj/2012/10/11/new-ship-owner-tells-of-plans-for-mv-suilven/| title=Fiji Sun| accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hebrides-news.com/suilven_spared_241012.html| title=Hebrides News| accessdate=11 March 2013}}</ref>
On 24 November 2015 ''Suilven'' capsized in Suva harbour. There were no passengers aboard as the ship was only carrying cargo at the time of the incident, the crew were rescued, no one injured.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ferry capsizes off Fijian capital Suva|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/south-pacific/74374027/ferry-capsizes-off-fijian-capital-suva|accessdate=24 November 2015}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category-inline|Suilven (ship, 1974)}} *{{cite web| url=http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/Calmac_Suilven.html#anchor74048| title=Images of Suilven| publisher=Simplon Postcards| accessdate=25 January 2011}}
{{2015 shipwrecks}} {{Caledonian MacBrayne ships}}
{{coord missing|Fiji}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suilven}} [[Category:Caledonian MacBrayne]] [[Category:Cook Strait ferries]] [[Category:Ferries of Fiji]] [[Category:Ferries of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Maritime incidents in 2015]] [[Category:Ships built in Moss, Norway]] [[Category:Shipwrecks of Fiji]] [[Category:1974 ships]]