MV Sound of Seil

Sound of Seil is a car and passenger ferry, operated by Western Ferries on the upper Clyde between Gourock and Dunoon, Scotland.^[3]

MV Sound of Shuna and MV Sound of Seil at Hunters Quay
History
United Kingdom
Name	Sound of Seil
Namesake	Sound adjacent to Seil in the Slate Islands
Operator	Western Ferries
Route	Gourock to Dunoon
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Cost	estimated £4 million[1]
Yard number	1387
Laid down	18 October 2012
Launched	25 July 2013
In service	October 2013
Identification	IMO number: 9665217 Callsign: 2GWI2 MMSI number: 235101062
Status	in service
General characteristics
Class and type	Passenger/vehicle roll-on/roll-off ferry
Tonnage	225 DWT 497 GT
Length	49.95 m (163 ft 11 in)
Beam	15 m (49 ft 3 in)
Draught	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Ramps	2
Installed power	2 x Cummins QSK19M 600 bhp (450 kW) at 1800 rpm
Propulsion	2 x Rolls-Royce Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters[2]
Speed	12 kt
Capacity	220 passengers 40 cars
Notes	[3]

History

Sound of Seil was built by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead.^[3] She was launched into the River Mersey by crane on 25 July 2013.^[1] After fitting out, she entered service in October 2013, replacing the smaller and slower MV Sound of Sanda and MV Sound of Scalpay.

Layout

Sound of Seil and her sister, MV Sound of Soay were a development of the design of the earlier fleet members.^[3] They have a single car deck with 194 lane-metres between bow and stern ramps. There is a passenger lounge. The ferries use LED lighting and enhanced heat recovery.

Service

Along with up to three other vessels, Sound of Seil operates Western Ferries' Clyde service between McInroy's Point (Gourock) and Hunters Quay (Dunoon). This 2.2 nautical mile crossing^[2] allows vehicles to avoid the A83 "Rest and be thankful".^[1]