Cargo vessel M V Loch Ard (1955) at Port Ellen
M V Lochiel after striking a rock in West Loch Tarbert
Isles, Skye and Mull respectively – but Islay was completely bypassed, most likely because the very shallow waters of the West Loch required a very light-drafted vessel. A strategic plan, however, was brought forward the following year. A terminal was suggested well down the West Loch where a ferry could run to Port Askaig (and Colonsay) but not to Port Ellen (or Gigha). As a consequence the connecting service on the Clyde, provided since 1959 by DEV Lochfyne, would be withdrawn, as it was not sensible for a passenger only vessel to feed into a car ferry. Argyll County Council initially co-operated with the idea of the new terminal but the Ileachs were bitterly split, some preferring an ‘overland route’ through Jura. Meanwhile, a compromise was struck: in July and August the Lochnevis became the mailboat and the Lochiel, following alterations which had increased her hold capacity, became a ‘car ferry’, that is she offered additional sailings for vehicles to and from Port Askaig.
loading ferry from Ferguson Brothers Ltd of Port Glasgow and constructed terminals at Kennacraig (a few miles down from the West Loch Pier) and Port Askaig. This was as MacBrayne’s had planned (without the extension to Colonsay, which incidentally had at last acquired a pier in early 1965). As no Government subsidy was to be provided no consultation was required. Their terminals complete, the new firm, Western Ferries, introduced the red-hulled Sound of Islay to the route on 8 April 1968. The 11-knot ferry, which could carry 25 cars and 75 passengers, offered sailings at 07:00 and 14:00. She sailed with a crew of only seven and had vending machines instead of a cafeteria, but she soon cut into the MacBrayne traffic as motorists naturally preferred to reverse on to a car deck than have their vehicles lifted by derrick into a cargo hold. So successful was she that Western Ferries ordered another ferry from Norway. She was to be rather larger and with superior passenger accommodation. The Sound of Jura took up service on 1 August 1969. She was the first drive-through car ferry in the Clyde
Meanwhile a private firm, backed by many interests in Islay and Jura, ordered a stern7