Old Photograph Cowal Ferry River Clyde Scotland

Old photograph of the Cowal Ferry on the River Clyde by Glasgow, Scotland. MV Cowal was a hoist loading vehicle ferry introduced by Caledonian Steam Packet Company in 1954. She spent the whole of her 24 years with Calmac on the Upper Clyde crossings. She was the second of a trio of vehicle vessels ordered in 1951 to modernise the Clyde fleet. Three general purpose" vessels were planned for the Clyde routes of their names, MV Arran, MV Bute and MV Cowal. Built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Company, Cowal was launched at Troon on 20 January 1954. After 24 years' service, she was laid up in East India Harbour, Greenock from early June 1977. Surviving a galley fire on 9 June, she was moved to the James Watt Dock in 1978 and offered for sale. Increasingly forlorn and " cannibalised " for parts to keep Arran running, Cowal was finally sold to Phetouris Ferries in Greece on 5 January 1979, and left under tow for Perama on 15 May. Despite the tow parting in the Bay of Biscay, she arrived in Piraeus, and was advertised, as Med Star, to take up service across the southern Adriatic, from Otranto to Igoumenitsa. Phetouris died in 1983 and his vision for the former Cowal and MV Bute was never progressed. Med Star was sold for scrap in December 1983, and broken up the following year.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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