Two CalMac ships took a step nearer service in significant events which occurred recently.

The new Stornoway ferry Loch Seaforth was launched by the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft shipyard in Germany. Loch Seaforth becomes the fourth successive major CalMac vessel to be built abroad - the others being, Bute, Argyle, and Finlaggan.

The £45 million ship is expected in service this summer - a mere 11 months from the “cutting of the first steel”. Readers can watch the launch and see the ship fitting out on the shipyard’s excellent website.

Nearer home, the second of the new “hybrid” ferries, Lochinvar, emerged from her slumbers at Ferguson Shipbuilders of Port Glasgow to carry out “builders’ trials” on the Clyde and these included ramp trials at Cumbrae Slip on Wednesday 25th March, where the vessel is pictured here.

It is anticipated that Lochinvar will go into service in early summer between Portavadie and Tarbert, Loch Fyne.

As a consequence of the impending introduction of ‘Lochinvar’ and of her sister Hallaig last autumn, Loch Riddon has moved to the Lismore service, Loch Striven will return to Largs this summer from the Raasay service while the 1977 built ‘Isle of Cumbrae’ will probably be retired after giving sterling service within the fleet.

Thanks to Gordon Law for this article.