MV Isle of Arran

On approach to Ardrossan, September 2021
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Isle of Arran Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Arainn [2]
Owner	Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Operator	Caledonian MacBrayne
Port of registry	Glasgow, United Kingdom
Route	Relief vessel
Builder	Ferguson Ailsa Ltd, Port Glasgow
Yard number	491[1]
Launched	2 December 1983 by Miss Joanna Younger, daughter of the then Secretary of State
Maiden voyage	13 April 1984
Identification	IMO number: 8219554 Callsign: GDMJ MMSI Number: 235104000
Status	In service
General characteristics
Class and type	Vehicle and passenger ferry
Tonnage	3,296 gt[2]
Length	84.92 m (278 ft 7 in)
Beam	16.24 m (53 ft 3 in)
Draft	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Propulsion	2 × Mirrlees Blackstone 8MB275 diesel engines, each developing 2,310 bhp (1,720 kW)
Speed	14 kn (26 km/h) (service)
Capacity	448 passengers 76 cars
Crew	20
Notes	[3]

MV Isle of Arran (Scottish Gaelic: Eilean Arainn) is a drive-through ferry operated on the west coast of Scotland by Caledonian MacBrayne. Also known by her local nicknames IOA and The Auld Trooper, she entered service in 1984 on the Ardrossan to Brodick route, serving Arran for nine years before being moved to Kennacraig. She returned to her original route in 2012, supplementing MV Caledonian Isles in summer and becoming a relief vessel in winter. In 2013, she started a new pilot route from Ardrossan to Campbeltown, which became a permanent fixture in 2015. As of 2023^[update], she is one of the oldest vessels in the fleet, having been in service for 40 years; upon arriving into Oban in the West Highlands, celebrations were mounted ashore to mark the 40th anniversary of her launch and service on 2 December 2023.