MV Iona (VII) was the first of a new generation of major car ferries built for the Scottish Transport Group to replace the ageing 1939 mailboat Lochiel, serving Islay, Jura, Gigha and Colonsay from West Loch Tarbert.
Early in 1968 MacBraynes were authorised to order a large new car ferry for the Argyll Hebrides and placed an order with the Ailsa yard in Troon.
The deep-drafted vessel could not operate from MacBrayne's existing West Loch Tarbert pier and a site at Redhouse, much further down the loch was identified.
In January 1969, Argyll County Council announced that they would not proceed with works at Redhouse.
As the alternative route from Oban was too long, the entire scheme was abandoned in August 1969.
Instead, the hoist-loading MV Arran, one of the pioneering Clyde car ferries replaced MV Lochiel at Islay, competing with Western Ferries.

Iona was launched on 22 January 1970.
The historic MacBrayne name had last been used by a celebrated paddle steamer of 1864, finally scrapped in 1935 after 72 years.
She ran trials on 25 and 28 May and entered service the following day on the Gourock - Dunoon service for CSP, with MV Bute.
She remained almost constantly on the Gourock - Dunoon station until November 1971, with the occasional assistance at Arran.

She was troubled by a run of early breakdowns: starboard ramp, hoist, forward capstan, bow-thrust unit and automatic steering.
All were duly fixed, but her gearboxes continued to be a regular problem throughout her career.
The absence of a turntable at the forward end of her car deck made the management of on-board traffic difficult.
Initial problems were exacerbated by the need to use a side-loading hoist.
Things improved after she hanselled the new end-loading linkspan at Gourock on 26 July 1971.

In April 1972 Iona moved to the Western Isles, serving Port Askaig and Colonsay, but from Oban rather than West Loch Tarbert.
From 1 May she displaced the ageing Loch Seaforth as the Stornoway mailboat, and offered a car-carrying service to Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig.
Iona's basic passenger facilities were less than ideal for the very long sailing to the West Highland railheads.
Ullapool had been selected as a more suitable mainland port and Iona inaugurated a new terminal and linkspan there on 26 March 1973.
Hoist loading continued at Stornoway for another two months.
Thereafter Iona bow-loaded at Stornoway and stern-loaded at Ullapool.
She was not a popular Lewis mailboat.

Major service problems began on 13 June 1973, when the Stornoway linkspan broke down.
Iona had to hoist-load, again, for three days.
Then Iona herself broke down, and for several days sailed at 10 knots on one engine.
The newly rebuilt MV Clansman also lay idle at Stornoway.
Iona again suffered engine trouble in July and spent the rest of that season as the Oban - Craignure ferry, opening the new Oban linkspan on 15 October.

On 29 April 1974, still without a permanent role, she started a new fast "Marine Motorway" from Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale, inaugurating a Lochboisdale linkspan that July and berthing there overnight.
Iona included Coll and Tiree only in her winter roster, which also included a non-landing call at Tobermory.
She still used her lift at Barra, Coll and Tiree.
Even without Coll and Tiree, the sail from Oban to Barra and South Uist was still a long one and, with very early morning departures.
Iona's lack of sleeping berths was greatly criticised.
In her 1975 refit, a new deckhouse was added, aft of the officers' accommodation and incorporating eight double cabins.
MV Iona completed five seasons on the Oban - Castlebay / Lochboisdale service, but proved increasingly too small, especially with the heavy year-round army traffic to Uist bases via Lochboisdale.

The arrival of the new MV Claymore at Oban and the purchase of Western Ferries' Kennacraig facilities in October, finally allowed Iona to take up the Islay service on 15 February 1979.
At first she gave three return runs daily between Kennacraig and Port Ellen, with two on Sundays.
From 24 October 1979, she gave two calls we
MV Iona (VII) was the first of a new generation of major car ferries built for the Scottish Transport Group to replace the ageing 1939 mailboat Lochiel, serving Islay, Jura, Gigha and Colonsay from West Loch Tarbert. Early in 1968 MacBraynes were authorised to order a large new car ferry for the Argyll Hebrides and placed an order with the Ailsa yard in Troon. The deep-drafted vessel could not operate from MacBrayne's existing West Loch Tarbert pier and a site at Redhouse, much further down the loch was identified. In January 1969, Argyll County Council announced that they would not proceed with works at Redhouse. As the alternative route from Oban was too long, the entire scheme was abandoned in August 1969. Instead, the hoist-loading MV Arran, one of the pioneering Clyde car ferries replaced MV Lochiel at Islay, competing with Western Ferries.
Iona was launched on 22 January 1970. The historic MacBrayne name had last been used by a celebrated paddle steamer of 1864, finally scrapped in 1935 after 72 years. She ran trials on 25 and 28 May and entered service the following day on the Gourock - Dunoon service for CSP, with MV Bute. She remained almost constantly on the Gourock - Dunoon station until November 1971, with the occasional assistance at Arran. 
She was troubled by a run of early breakdowns: starboard ramp, hoist, forward capstan, bow-thrust unit and automatic steering. All were duly fixed, but her gearboxes continued to be a regular problem throughout her career. The absence of a turntable at the forward end of her car deck made the management of on-board traffic difficult. Initial problems were exacerbated by the need to use a side-loading hoist. Things improved after she hanselled the new end-loading linkspan at Gourock on 26 July 1971.
In April 1972 Iona moved to the Western Isles, serving Port Askaig and Colonsay, but from Oban rather than West Loch Tarbert. From 1 May she displaced the ageing Loch Seaforth as the Stornoway mailboat, and offered a car-carrying service to Kyle of Lochalsh and Mallaig. Iona's basic passenger facilities were less than ideal for the very long sailing to the West Highland railheads. Ullapool had been selected as a more suitable mainland port and Iona inaugurated a new terminal and linkspan there on 26 March 1973. Hoist loading continued at Stornoway for another two months. Thereafter Iona bow-loaded at Stornoway and stern-loaded at Ullapool. She was not a popular Lewis mailboat. 
Major service problems began on 13 June 1973, when the Stornoway linkspan broke down. Iona had to hoist-load, again, for three days. Then Iona herself broke down, and for several days sailed at 10 knots on one engine. The newly rebuilt MV Clansman also lay idle at Stornoway. Iona again suffered engine trouble in July and spent the rest of that season as the Oban - Craignure ferry, opening the new Oban linkspan on 15 October. 
On 29 April 1974, still without a permanent role, she started a new fast "Marine Motorway" from Oban to Castlebay and Lochboisdale, inaugurating a Lochboisdale linkspan that July and berthing there overnight. Iona included Coll and Tiree only in her winter roster, which also included a non-landing call at Tobermory. She still used her lift at Barra, Coll and Tiree. Even without Coll and Tiree, the sail from Oban to Barra and South Uist was still a long one and, with very early morning departures. Iona's lack of sleeping berths was greatly criticised. In her 1975 refit, a new deckhouse was added, aft of the officers' accommodation and incorporating eight double cabins. MV Iona completed five seasons on the Oban - Castlebay / Lochboisdale service, but proved increasingly too small, especially with the heavy year-round army traffic to Uist bases via Lochboisdale. 
The arrival of the new MV Claymore at Oban and the purchase of Western Ferries' Kennacraig facilities in October, finally allowed Iona to take up the Islay service on 15 February 1979. At first she gave three return runs daily between Kennacraig and Port Ellen, with two on Sundays. From 24 October 1979, she gave two calls we
MV Pentalina-B