MV Bigga

	MV Bigga in the ship's cradle in Fraserburgh
History
United Kingdom
Name	MV Bigga
Namesake	Island of Bigga, Yell Sound
Owner	Shetland Islands Council
Operator	SIC Ferries
Port of registry	Lerwick
Route	Yell Sound (1991 - 2004); Bluemull Sound (2004 - );
Builder	J W Miller & Sons, St Monans, Fife
Yard number	1043
Completed	1991
In service	19 April 1991
Refit	Once a year, normally August - September
Identification	IMO number: 9000821; MMSI number: 232003606; Callsign: MNXZ2;
Status	In Service
General characteristics
Type	Ro-Ro Vehicle & Passenger Ferry
Tonnage	Gross Tonnage: 274; Net Tonnage: 82; Deadweight Tonnage: 104.3;
Displacement	404
Length	33.45 m (109.7 ft)
Beam	10.1 m (33.1 ft)
Draught	2.612 m (8.6 ft)
Depth	3.85 m (12.6 ft)
Decks	4 (2 Passenger)
Ramps	Fore and aft ramps and Bow visor
Installed power	2 x 410kW @1300 rpm 2 x Mitsubishi S6R2-MPTK
Propulsion	Twin Screw; 1x Bow Thruster;
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Boats & landing ; craft carried	1x Rescue Boat
Capacity	96/50 passengers; 16 cars (size-dependent); 1 Artic;
Crew	5/4

MV Bigga is a ro-ro passenger ferry operated by the SIC Ferries. She operates as the shift vessel on the Bluemull Sound service.^[1]

History

MV Bigga is the last of four similar ferries built for the council in 1980s and 1990s.

MV Bigga is the part-sister ship of MV Geira, being built at the same yard to slightly different specification. However, she is closer in design to MV Hendra, with MV Geira being closer to MV Fivla (II).

Layout

MV Bigga was the first true 3 lane ferry built for the council, however due to sizes of vehicles now, normally only 2 lanes are used on her car deck. Just like other SIC ferries her size, Bigga has a passenger lounge located beneath the car deck.^[2]

Service

Entering service on 19 April 1991 on the Yell Sound route, MV Bigga, alongside MV Hendra, until 2004 when the two new Yell ferries came into service.

She was then transferred to the Bluemull Sound route, joining MV Fivla (II). However, due to a vessel reshuffle, on 3 October 2005 MV Geira (II) joined her instead.^[3] These two ferries still operate the Bluemull Sound service today.

MV Bigga has done some relief across the SIC fleet, such as on the Bressay service in 2008.^[4]^[5]

References

^ Sawkins, James. "Ferry Timetables". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ "Bigga - Our Fleet - Ferries - Infrastructure Services - Shetland Islands Council". 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ "Shetland Islands Council - Ferries". 23 November 2005. Archived from the original on 23 November 2005. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
^ Sharville, Ruth (2 July 2008), English: Bressay ferry "Bigga" at the Lerwick Pier This is not in fact the usual vessel to ply the short crossing to Bressay. The usual ferry is - how shall I put this - "even bigga"., retrieved 24 August 2023
^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[1] Sawkins, James. "Ferry Timetables". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[2] "Bigga - Our Fleet - Ferries - Infrastructure Services - Shetland Islands Council". 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[3] "Shetland Islands Council - Ferries". 23 November 2005. Archived from the original on 23 November 2005. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

[4] Sharville, Ruth (2 July 2008), English: Bressay ferry "Bigga" at the Lerwick Pier This is not in fact the usual vessel to ply the short crossing to Bressay. The usual ferry is - how shall I put this - "even bigga"., retrieved 24 August 2023

[5] "Wayback Machine" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

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