There is an early record of a ferry at Kessock in the 15th century. Over the years sail, steam and diesel-powered ferries have crossed the narrows to provide a direct link between the Black Isle and Inverness, until the opening of the
Kessock Bridge in 1982. leading to the death of three ferrymen and three coastguards who were attempting to rescue them. The tragedy was immortalised by the poet
William McGonagall. The two steam boats
Nellie and
Maud formed the Kessock Ferry before, during and until just after the First World War. They were named after relatives of
Lord Burton of Dochfour, whose family owned the Kessock Estate and the ferry. In the winter, passengers were usually outnumbered by cattle, sheep and pigs on their way to market. Built by
James Lamont & Co of
Port Glasgow, she was launched on 7 February 1951 and was capable of carrying eight cars, with a small indoor passenger cabin. She was retained as relief vessel in 1967 and went on to do salvage and rig support work, eventually being scrapped at Invergordon. The
Inbhir Nis, a four-vehicle vessel, was added in the 1950s. The
Rosehaugh was purchased in 1967, a much larger ferry boat, with ramps on all four corners. She was moved to the
Corran Ferry after Kessock closed and is now a multipurpose cargo boat operated by MacDonald Ferries of
Invergordon. Today she acts as tender for oil rigs in the Cromarty Firth. It has clear deck space and crane and winch facilities for handling oil rig anchor chain, and it is extremely manoeuvrable with twin
Voith-Schneider propulsion units. ==Footnotes==