Cruise Loch Ness has launched a new £2 million passenger vessel as booming Highland tourism drives demand for more capacity.
The Fort Augustus-based company has introduced the Voyager of Loch Ness, a 236-seat vessel that increases its passenger capacity to more than 450 people per hour.
The investment has also created four new jobs and expands the company's fleet to three vessels.
Founded in 1968 with a single 12-seat ex-lifeboat, Cruise Loch Ness now operates the Voyager of Loch Ness alongside the Spirit of Loch Ness and high-speed RIB Ness Quest from its base on the Caledonian Canal.
The Voyager was purchased in Plymouth before making the 650-mile journey to Buckie, where it underwent an £800,000 refurbishment at Macduff Shipyard.
The six-month refit included a new onboard bar, tables, leather seating, upgraded heating and air conditioning, and the installation of 16 sonar monitors allowing passengers to view underwater activity in real time.
The company says the larger vessel will help meet increasing visitor numbers throughout the year while ensuring it can continue serving long-standing tour partners during maintenance periods for its existing fleet.
Cruise Loch Ness has welcomed almost two million passengers since launching more than five decades ago and has earned five-star visitor attraction status from the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA).
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Ron Mackenzie, managing director of Cruise Loch Ness and son of founder Norman Hugh Mackenzie, said: "It's great to see the boat running after 6 months of overseeing and project managing.
"Tourism is booming in the Highlands at the moment and we were basically running out of capacity."
Debi Mackenzie, director and co-owner, said: "The season runs year-round.
"We’ve always run a smaller vessel in tandem with a bigger vessel but when the bigger vessel was in for a winter service or inspection work, we were struggling to meet high winter demand.
"Having Voyager safeguards the company’s future.
"We didn’t want to get to a position where we were having to turn away long-standing tour partners.
"This gives us the capacity we need, longer-term.
"I think the reason the interest remains so strong is that it is such a beautiful area.
"People love the scenery.
"Obviously, the mystery about the Loch Ness monster continues to be a draw as well but there is so much to see here."
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