Dunoon Pier- End of the Calmac Era

With the sad news that Caledonian MacBrayne have been told to give up their popular vehicle-carrying ferry service to the Firth of Clyde resort of Dunoon in favour of their competitors Western Ferries (Clyde) Ltd , here we see the final 'Clyde Streaker' , MV Saturn , approaching Dunoon Pier on the penultimate day before the service stops , taken on the 28th June 2011. For decades , this route between Gourock and Dunoon was very popular. Anyone taking their car from Gourock to Dunoon now have to use Western Ferries , which takes them away from the town centre of Dunoon and have to use fuel to come back in. A total cost-cutting excersise to be blunt. I like the reassuring 'hum' of her twin Mirrlees Blackstone engines. This Calmac car ferry service had been started fifty-seven years ago.

MV Saturn did make further appearances at Dunoon later on in the summer of 2011 , for the Cowal Gathering on the 27th August , helping out the two smaller passenger boats , Argyll Flyer & Ali Cat.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Dunoon
• Dunoon Pier
• Dunoon Ferry
• Calmac
• Caledonian MacBrayne
• MV Saturn
• Clyde Streakers
• Calmac Ferries
• Scotland
• UK
• End of an Era
• Sad day for Dunoon
• Ferry Crossings
• Firth of Clyde
• River Clyde
• Caledonian MacBrayne Fleet
• Argyll & Bute
• United Kingdom
• Ferry Withdrawals
• Car Ferries
• Withdrawn Ferries
• Ferryboats

[racampbell6]

I hadn't realised that had happened - so that was what you meant by your comment about the Saturn.

I have many good memories of leaving the Calmac pier at Dunoon on the last ferry of the day.

Great video!