MV Loch Tarbert (Gaelic; Scottish Gaelic: Loch an Tairbeirt) is a Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited ro-ro car ferry, built in 1992 and currently operated by Caledonian MacBrayne. She has spent most of her career on the seasonal Claonaig - Lochranza crossing.
MV Loch Tarbert was built in 1992 by JW Miller & Sons Ltd of St Monans, following MV Loch Buie's launch there the previous year.[1]
Loch Tarbert is a variant on 's design. Her car deck has capacity for 18 cars. Passenger accommodation for 150 passengers is in a starboard lounge and on two outer decks.[2] A large funnel on the opposite side to her wheelhouse is painted in CalMac livery.[2]
MV Loch Tarbert replaced on the seasonal Claonaig - Lochranza crossing in July 1992, operating this crossing in summers until 2016.[2] In winters, she has relieved at Iona, Fishnish, Colintraive and Largs. She provided additional dangerous loads sailings from Largs to Lochranza until the service from Tarbert to Arran started.
In early 1996, she opened the new Otternish - Leverburgh route across the Sound of Harris, awaiting new . During a seaman's strike in 2000, Arran traffic was diverted to the Loch Fyne and Claonaig crossings. Loch Tarbert was joined by to cope with the traffic.[2] At the end of recent summers, Loch Tarbert has moved to Tarbert to start a winter service to Portavadie, with a lunchtime sailing to Arran. The service is usually taken over by one of the smaller Loch Class. Loch Tarbert usually relieves at Largs, however spends most of the winter as a spare vessel.[2]
Loch Tarbert was replaced on the Claonaig–Lochranza crossing in September 2016 by the – the third of Caledonian MacBrayne's hybrid ferries – and she became a spare/relief vessel that winter.[3] In summer 2017, Loch Tarbert became the dedicated vessel on the Tobermory to Kilchoan route owing to rising vehicle traffic on that route. Loch Tarbert displaced in the process.
In January and February 2022, Loch Tarbert operated a temporary timetable of two to three return sailings per day from Tarbert to Lochranza, Arran. This was in response to a temporary COVID-19-related timetable on the Ardrossan - Brodick route operated by, to alleviate capacity issues from the absence of . This temporary timetable was extended when Caledonian Isles return from annual overhaul was delayed.[4]
In March 2024, Loch Tarbert experienced technical difficulties and was relieved by Loch Linnhe.[5] On return to service, she was deployed to the Tarbert to Portavadie route, in place of Isle of Cumbrae which had been redeployed to Largs following damage to 's ramps.[6] In May, Loch Tarbert herself saw service at Largs alongside Loch Bhrusda after Isle of Cumbrae experienced technical difficulties.[7] Service at Tarbert was taken up by Loch Riddon, with Loch Linnhe continuing to cover Loch Tarberts normal roster at Tobermory.