There is a new ferry on the Cumbrae to Largs route today (October 31), as Calmac has replaced the MV Loch Shira with the MV Loch Fyne.

The vessel, which has been at James Watt Dock to enable remedial work to her ramps, swapped with the MV Loch Shira this morning in order to enable the normal roll-on and roll-off service to resume.

A Cumbrae Ferry Users Group spokesperson said: "For islanders who are not familiar with the MV Loch Fyne, she has a similar capacity to the MV Loch Shira, but has smaller engines so may be slightly slower and may be less able to hold herself onto a windy slipway."

The MV Loch Fyne has capacity for 200 passengers and 36 cars, compared to 36 cars and 250 passengers for MV Loch Shira.

A CalMac spokesperson said: "Due to a technical issue with the vessel's forward ramp, MV Loch Shira has been removed from service and is going to dock for repairs on Tuesday, October 31.

"From October 31- November 2, MV Loch Fyne is operating this service to a normal published timetable.

"MV Loch Fyne will begin the Largs-Cumbrae service at 11.45am today."

Although a new arrival, she isn't a new ship.

MV Loch Fyne, Loch Fìne in Gaelic, used to sail from Mallaig to Armadale on Skye.

MV Loch Fyne originally entered service at Kyle of Lochalsh on September 12, 1991 sailing to Kyleakin on Skye, replacing the last of the old ferries, MV Kyleakin.

On October 16, 1995, MV Loch Fyne and MV Loch Dunvegan, dressed with flags, gave the last car ferry runs across the narrow stretch of water before the Skye Bridge opened.

Loch Fyne was laid up in James Watt Dock at Greenock for two years. She came out of retirement in 1997 when the MV Loch Dunvegan needed emergency repairs and took over the Lochaline to Fishnish route. Since then she has returned to the Mallaig to Armadale route.