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Iona was originally built for David MacBrayne Ltd. Pictured at Ardrishaig in 1990, she was the oldest vessel in the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet when she was sold in November 1997. Built at the outset as a roll-on-roll-off vessel, but also with ramps and hoist at the stern, she was intended to serve Islay from West Loch Tarbert but, because a suitable terminal could not be built, she entered service on the Gourock-Dunoon route for a couple of years. She then served Stornoway briefly before becoming the main Outer Isles vessel from Oban. In 1979, she did take up the Islay service (the Western Ferries terminal having been acquired) and laterly became the main vessel on the Mallaig-Armadale (Skye) summer service, being spare in winter. She is the most well-traveled vessel in the fleet, having called at all major piers in the CalMac domain except, curiously, Kilcreggan. Her Radio Room, just off the bridge, consisted of a Marconi Marine installtion typical of the time of her construction and remained almost totally intact until the equipment was removed after the vessel's conversion to GMDSS operations. Her name comes from the Island of Iona, which lies to the west of the Isle of Mull, off the Scottish west coast, and was the base from which Columba spread Christianity across Scotland. |
