MV Sound of Soay

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

Between McInroy’s Point and Hunters Quay
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Sound of Soay
Namesake	Sound between Skye and Soay
Operator	Western Ferries
Route	Gourock to Dunoon
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Cost	estimated £4 million[1]
Yard number	1388
Launched	22 July 2013
In service	October 2013
Identification	IMO number: 9665229 Callsign: 2GWI3 MMSI number: 235101063
Status	in service
General characteristics
Class & type	Passenger/vehicle ferry
Type	roll-on/roll-off ferry
Tonnage	225 DWT 497 GT
Length	49.95 m (163.9 ft)
Beam	15 m (49.2 ft)
Draught	2.5 m
Ramps	2
Installed power	2 x Cummins QSK19M 600 BHP @ 1800 rpm
Propulsion	2 x Rolls-Royce Aquamaster azimuthing thrusters[2]
Speed	12 kt
Capacity	220 passengers 40 cars
Notes	[3]

History

Sound of Soay was built entirely in the UK by Cammell Laird of Birkenhead.^[3] She was launched/ craned into the River Mersey on 22 July 2013,^[1] the first complete ship from the yard since 1992.^[4] After fitting out, she entered service in October 2013.

Layout

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

Service

Along with up to three other vessels, Sound of Soay 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]