CalMac ferry, MV Glen Sannox, has successfully passed muster with the UK maritime authorities and is now fully approved to commence passenger sailings.
All mandatory safety certifications confirming her seaworthiness has been obtained from shipping regulator Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and by Lloyd’s Register.
Most coveted of all is her passenger ship safety certificate signed by a senior marine surveyor at the MCA following an exhaustive series of stringent surveys, inspections and audits in recent weeks.
The Glen Sannox could have carried passengers today but an official hand-over to
CMAL has to be completed.
John Petticrew, interim chief executive of the Ferguson Marine shipyard, said: “We are delighted to share that MV Glen Sannox has now obtained full regulatory approval, including its passenger certification.”
He added: “Subject to the completion of the required legal and contractual processes, the vessel will be officially transferred to its new owners, CMAL.
“Control of the vessel will then be handed to CalMac who require six and a half weeks for operational readiness and annual recertification activities.”
Scottish Government agency CMAL will now be formally invited to accept legally ownership of MV Glen Sannox from Fergusons.
When handover is completed the ship will be transferred to CalMac to carry out further sea trials and berthing tests with the vessel.
Promised delivery deadlines have been regularly missed and means MV Glen Sannox is unlikely to be available for commercial sailings until January December after CalMac crew familiarisation trials take place.
The Sannox is desperately needed on her designated Arran service which is suffering economic pain following the extremely lengthy withdrawal for major repairs of their main ferry, MV Caledonian Isles.
Past failures to meet target delivery dates due to the gas fuel system were often
highlighted with a code red status under the traffic light colours’ rating adopted
during monitoring of the final stages of ship-build and handover arrangements.
Both the Sannox and her sister ship, MV Glen Rosa, should have been in service in 2018 on CalMac lifeline ferry routes under the original shipbuilding contract between the Scottish Government and Ferguson Marine.
Building costs have regularly increased and are in excess of £300 million total compared to the original price tag of £97 million.
CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox receives vital ‘operating licence’ to commence passenger sailings
19 November 2024
