I’ve been sailing on the Clyde for 25 years this year and enjoyed many crossings on the numerous routes that are offered.

Unusually for us we found ourselves on the Clyde in the winter this year and looking for something a little different, I decided to try out the mv Coruisk on the Gourock – Dunoon service.

Coruisk only operates on this route during the winter and only at peak times. She is much larger than the two passenger only craft that operate year round and as the route is not carrying cars anymore she operates in passenger only mode despite the fact that passengers board the ship over her car loading ramps at both ports.

Her sailings are not advertised so I asked my friends on the Scottish Maritime Facebook Group for help in identifying which sailings she usually operated. Within minutes a member very kindly answered my question.

The ship essentially replaces the Ali Cat for 4 return trips per day which is somewhat ironic really given that Ali Cat started life offering support to the car ferries then on the route at peak times.

The ship operates 0645 off Gourock (0715 off Dunoon) the 0750 off Gourock (0820 off Dunoon) in the morning and then her evening sailings are usually the 1650 off Gourock (1720 off Dunoon) and then the 1750 off Gourock (1820 return from Dunoon).

The early morning sailings in the middle of winter didn’t really appeal, as it would have meant getting up very early to catch them and I wasn’t sure of the light situation so I decided the best sailing would be the 16:50 off Gourock, so I stood at least a chance of some daylight photos.

I was right, the sun was quite low when I arrived at the port 20 minutes or so before sailing. The ship was at the layby berth and was fired up and ready to go.

Having Azimuth propulsion she simply pushed herself off the berth sideways and proceeded to head a safe distance from the port pirouetting a few times to position herself the right way round for berthing.

At around 16:45 the Alicat arrived and offloaded her passengers onto the linkspan and Coruisk headed impatiently towards her waiting to take her place. The Ali Cat made a swift retreat and the Coruisk dropped her stern door onto the linkspan and passengers headed onto the ship.

Despite this being a peak sailing there were only 15 passengers which surprised me as a train had arrived from Glasgow a few minutes before, I must admit I was expecting a busy crossing.

Once aboard the ship looked huge, far bigger than I had expected, the full height vehicle deck with two accommodation decks above and the bridge on top of that made for a formidable impression.

On board the ship was delightful. The passenger cabin isn’t the largest but it has plenty of seating in light green, brown and blue, a small shop, information desk and toilets. There is even a lift to the car deck,

Outside there is plenty of customary red seating both fore and aft. For the 250 passengers she can carry she is plenty big enough and it must be said immaculately maintained.

The ship is smooth and quite and the crossing was over in no time. Arrival at Dunoon was swift with the ship backing onto the linkspan for passengers to disembark. I was quite surprised how well she seemed to fit and thought it a real shame that she didnt carry cars.

Passengers were boarding almost before the incoming passengers were off the ship, 15 off and 15 on. Within a few moments the stern door was raised, lines off and we were headed back to Gourock.

The return journey was again very smooth but in near darkness now. Passengers were by the stern door as we arrived and we were off as soon as the ramp was down and again the next passengers boarded. By the time I had walked the hundred yards or so to my car, the ship was off on her final sailing of the day.

The Coruisk is no looker, frankly she doesn’t need to be. One observer commented when she was new that she appeared to have been designed by committee, and I see that. But she is delightful to sail on and I was really glad that I did. Given a choice I would happily sail on her exclusively on that route, but alas she has her own deployment during the summer which is when I am usually on the Clyde.

She has spent a number of years now in the summer working the Oban – Craignure crossing which I can see would work well. In the winter she covers for the Bute and Argyll on the Wemyss Bay – Rothesay sailing when they are being overhauled and I can see that she would be perfect for that task too.

All in all a lovely ship.