Construction of two new CalMac ferries begins

Construction of two new ferries in Turkey for the CalMac fleet is officially underway after the first piece of steel was cut yesterday (Tuesday).

Earmarked for the increasingly busy Islay route, the additional vessels will beef up the shipping company’s fleet.

When delivered in late 2024, the extra tonnage will provide more opportunity for CalMac to deploy vessels across the west coast, including the Western Isles, to cover breakdowns or drydock periods.

The ships are being built in Turkey. Cemre Marin Endustri won the £91 million contract.

Ferguson Marine, the Scottish Government-owned shipyard in Port Glasgow, missed out on the contract.

The Clyde yard was one of 11 companies to lodge submissions but were excluded as the tendering process progressed.

Ferguson’s is currently constructing new ships for the Skye triangle route and the Arran service though delivery dates are running up to five years late.

Both ships are 95 metres long with capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 commercial vehicles, providing a combined 40% increase in vehicle and freight capacity on the Islay routes and improving the overall resilience of the wider fleet.

This initial stage of the build will see the construction of the first blocks being carried out under cover, before being relocated to the slipway to be assembled in a process called keel laying.

Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) - the Scottish Government’s ferry owning agency - CMAL said: “Work at the shipyard is progressing well; the team at Cemre is delivering each stage within the agreed timeline.

“I’m sure this will be welcome news for island communities to see the build programme get underway for these much-needed vessels.”

The first vessel is expected to be delivered by October 2024 and will enter service following sea trials and crew familiarisation. The second vessel will follow in early 2025.

The sister vessels form part of a 10-year programme of investment by CMAL, backed by £580 million from the Scottish Government for five years from 2021 to 2026.

Plans will deliver 21 new vessels for the fleet - including a modern ferry for South Uist and multi-million-pound upgrades of harbour infrastructure over the next decade. Further multi-million-pound investment will be needed to fund plans from 2026 onwards.

Jim Anderson, director of vessels at CMAL, starts up the machine to cut the first piece of steel

Construction of two new CalMac ferries begins

5 October 2022