Keel laid in Turkey for first of four new CalMac ferries

The keel has been laid for the first of new desperately needed ships to operate on CalMac’s main routes.

Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey won two separate orders to construct the vessels which are due to be delivered between late 2024 and 2026.

The increasingly busy Islay route will receive the first pair which will provide more opportunity for CalMac to deploy vessels to the Western Isles and west coast to cover breakdowns or drydock periods.

Harris and North Uist are in line to receive the next set of sister ships.

All four vessels are similar in length, capacity and design.

The keel for the first Islay ferry - known as NB 1092 at the yard - was laid this week while steel-cutting for the second vessel - yard number NB 1093 has also begun - three weeks ahead of schedule.

A ceremony to mark both events took place at Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Turkey, where the vessels are being built for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL).

Each of the new 95-metre-long vehicle/passenger ferries will be able to carry up to 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 artics.

For Islay this will mean a combined 40% increase in vehicle and freight capacity on the Islay routes and improving the overall resilience of the wider fleet.

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

The contract for the Skye triangle route ferries has been signed and is due to be fully finalised when a bank guarantee is confirmed early in February. The vessels should be delivered by 2026.

Minister for Transport Jenny Gilruth said: “This is a very welcome milestone for this vital project, which brings us another step closer to adding new ferries to the fleet serving the Clyde and Hebrides.

“The Islay ferry routes are some of the busiest services for freight on the west coast and the new vessels will help to grow the island’s economy, as well as bring added resilience to the wider network.

“The Scottish Government is committed to commissioning new ferries to support our island communities, and it’s encouraging to see progress on bringing these vessels into service on time and budget.”

Jim Anderson, director of vessels at CMAL, said: “The Cemre yard is delivering what it said it would, reaching two important milestones within the agreed timeline.

“Keel laying is a significant milestone in the ship’s life, marking the start of the construction of the vessel, fitting the first of many units to be fabricated and erected during construction.

“And the fact that we are getting underway with the second ferry means the shipyard’s pipeline approach is working well, following many hours of intensive design and development.”

Ferguson Marine, the Scottish Government-owned shipyard in Port Glasgow, missed out on the first tender and opted not to submit a bid for the second contract.

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.

The new vessels form part of a programme of investment by CMAL, funded through Scottish Government commitments to capital investment of around £700 million in ferry infrastructure and related services over the five years from 2021 to 2026.

Wider plans will deliver other new small and major vessels for the fleet and upgrades of harbour infrastructure with future options and being considered through the emerging Islands Connectivity Plan.

Keel laid in Turkey for first of four new CalMac ferries

13 January 2023

Steel being cut at the yard