CalMac’s latest vessel undergoing sea trials after upgrade

CalMac’s recently purchased Norwegian ferry is almost ready to commence service after receiving her legal operating certificate.

MV Loch Frisa will be station at Mull and is expected to provide additional resilience to the wider west coast fleet in winter.

Her acquisition has allowed CalMac to timetable extra sailings between South Uist and the mainland with the MV Lord of the Isles released from the Mallaig - Skye route, a run sandwiched in between her Lochboisdale sailings - to provide a dedicated summer season service for South Uist.

That, of course, is subject to the Lord of the Isles not being requisitioned to cover breakdowns elsewhere in the CalMac network.

In the quieter winter months, MV Isle of Mull, the main Mull vessel, is now likely to feature more in CalMac’s emergency disruption cover plans.

The improvement to the South Uist link will see two return sailings on three days a week in the summer with MV Coruisk - the present second vessel on the Mull run - to soon cover the Skye crossing.

MV Loch Frisa was bought second-hand the MV Utne from Norway for an estimated £5.5 million in October and has been upgraded in Scotland.

Delays dash hopes of an Easter entry to service with difficulties in getting the parts needed to improve her to UK safety standards.

Major modifications at Leith harbour included manufacturing and installing a new ramp, replacing lifejackets and other lifesaving appliances to ensure they meet MCA rules.

Her marine evacuation system and life raft deployment was improved as well as some mooring platform works.

The seven-year-old vessel is now legally registered under the Red Ensign and a civic naming ceremony will take place later.

The MCA has awarded her a passenger certificate after passing the necessary raft of inspections.

Her crew are undertaking a familiarisation voyage to assess her performance.

Freshly painted in Cal Mac colours, the 50-metre-long ship departed Leith today and will undertake a series of sea and berthing trials before her first commercial sailing, expected to be in mid-June.

She will be based at Mull operating a daily service to Oban, in conjunction with MV Isle of Mull, providing the island with around ten daily sailings in each direction from Oban. In addition, the Frisa will operate a late night run on Tuesday and Saturdays over the summer. MV Lochinvar will continue to operate 14 return runs a day between Mull and the Morvern peninsula.

Around 14 seafarers have been recruited as crew though only half that number would be on duty at a time. Those who do not live on Mull will stay overnight in shoreside accommodation as the vessel does not have crew cabins.

Jenny Gilruth, transport minister, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to see the MV Loch Frisa join the CalMac ferry fleet and I look forward to making the journey to Mull in her capable hands in the near future.

“The purchase and deployment of the Loch Frisa is an example of the Government working to support second hand tonnage for island communities.

“I’m sure it will be welcomed by local residents and visitors to Mull, but I know there is more to do.

“The government recognises that having confidence in ferry services is vital for those who live and work on the islands and that’s why we have committed £580 million to fund new ferries and port investments over five years.

“We will continue to work with CMAL and CalMac in the meantime to secure much needed additional improvements for our island communities.”

CalMac’s latest vessel undergoing sea trials after upgrade

29 May 2022