HEBRIDEAN ISLES began her last voyage being towed from her layup berth in Glasgow's King George V dock by two local tugs down the River Clyde to hook up with the deep-sea tug off Greenock, which will take the ferry on the last leg of her last voyage to Esbjerg.

Before HEBRIDEAN ISLES left Glasgow was stripped of a number of parts and systems, some of which will be re-used on other vessels in the CalMac fleet, while others are destined to local museums, a public garden and a nautical training college in Glasgow.

Engine parts, navigation aids and other electrical/electronic systems that can be used on other vessels in the fleet have been removed from the ship and placed in a warehouse in Gourock, including the ferry's MES.

The 40-year old HEBRIDEAN ISLES was retired from service in November last year after it was decided that growing maintenance needs and the renewal of her various safety certificates would prove to be too costly.

The ferry would have left for Esbjerg earlier than late October, until the vessel's owners, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) discovered that post-Brexit regulations meant that refrigerants and other hazardous chemicals would also have to be removed prior to the vessel's departure from Glasgow.

Many of CalMac's ferries are now so old that replacement parts are no longer available, meaning that they have to be specially manufactured, thereby delaying repair work and adding to costs.

A number of key components and parts from HEBRIDEAN ISLES will be used in other CalMac vessels, especially parts for the Mirrlees Blackstone MB275 main engines – cylinder heads, fuel pumps and fuel injectors have been sent away for reconditioning work and will be used on other vessels in the fleet.

The same main engines power ISLE OF ARRAN, CALEDONIAN ISLES, LORD OF THE ISLES and ISLE OF MULL.

© Shippax