MV Claymore (1955)

This article is about David MacBrayne 1955 mail boat. For other ships, see MV Claymore.

RMS Claymore at Oban in 1970
History
Name	Claymore City of Andros City of Hydra
Owner	1955: David MacBrayne 1976: Cycladic Cruises
Port of registry	1955–1976: Glasgow, United Kingdom 1976–2000: Piraeus, Greece
Route	1955–1972: Inner Isles mail from Oban 1976–1993: Saronic Islands
Builder	William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton Engine builder: Sulzer Bros. Ltd
Yard number	1482
Launched	10 March 1955
Identification	IMO number: 5075799
Fate	Sank at mooring at Eleusis 24 November 2000
General characteristics
Type	Steel Double Screw Motor Vessel
Tonnage	1,024 GT
Length	185.4 ft (57 m) (original)
Beam	35 ft (10.7 m)
Draft	11.2 ft (3.4 m)
Propulsion	2 Oil SCSA each 8 cyls; 4TD36 airless injection 360 x 600 mm; 1,299 bhp
Speed	12 kts
Capacity	500 passengers

MV Claymore (II) was David MacBrayne's last mail boat built in 1955. She served on the Inner Isles Mail on the west coast of Scotland until 1972. Subsequently sold for day cruising in the Greek Islands until 1993, she sank at her mooring in 2000.

History

Built by William Denny and Brothers of Dumbarton, Claymore was launched in 1955. She revived the name of an 1881 steamer, which had sailed for almost half a century between Glasgow and Stornoway. Claymore was the last major passenger vessel ordered by MacBraynes which was not a car ferry and entered service on the Inner Isles mail from Oban, replacing the elderly Lochearn. Thus also known as R.M.S. Claymore.

On merger, in 1973, Claymore remained registered to David MacBrayne Ltd and never adopted the Caledonian MacBrayne funnel.

In April 1976, she was sold to Canopus Shipping of Piraeus, and left Scotland on 10 May, as City of Andros, to join her ex-CSP consort City of Piraeus (ex-Maid of Argyll). After rebuilding in Greece, Claymore's name was changed again, to City of Hydra. She was withdrawn around 1993 and laid up at Eleusis. On 24 November 2000, she sank at her moorings and was subsequently scrapped.

Layout

Claymore was a two-class vessel with passenger accommodation over three decks. The dining saloons on the main deck were divided by a mid-line sliding partition. The promenade deck had a first-class observation lounge and bar, a second-class open lounge, first-class staterooms and a hospital room. The lower deck had first- and second-class cubicles. Claymore could carrying 494 in all and had sleeping accommodation for 56 passengers, a big improvement on the 22 who could sleep on Lochearn.

Claymore had the latest navigational aids of the day, radar, Decca, an echo-sounder and wireless-telegraphy. A forward hold and 7.5 ton derrick allowed her to carry 100 tons of cargo and 26 head of cattle. Up to eleven cars could be lifted on board.

She underwent a substantial rebuild and lengthening for her service as a cruise ship in Greece, emerging complete with swimming pool, dramatically flared bows and painted silver all over.

at Oban railway wharf

Service

Claymore entered service in 1955 on the Inner Isles mail route and remained on this route for almost her entire career. She sailed from Oban to Tobermory, Coll, Tiree, Castlebay and Lochboisdale three time per week. On some summer afternoons she gave short excursions from Oban. Until the arrival of the 1964 car ferries, Claymore was the regular relief at Stornoway. She continued as relief there until the arrival of MV Iona.

In the spring of 1972, Loch Seaforth, which could carry more cars, replaced her on the Inner Isles Mail. The wreck of Loch Seaforth in March 1973 prolonged the survival of Claymore, although she was largely laid up for much of her last years on the west coast. Claymore spent the summer of 1974 largely serving Coll, Tiree and Colonsay. After over a year laid up at Greenock, Claymore emerged in October 1975, for a last, brief spell of west coast service, making her last passenger sailing in Scotland, from Colonsay to Oban, on 7 November 1975.

In Greece, City of Hydra made day-cruises for Cycladic Cruises to Hydra, Aegina and Poros from Flisvos Marina.