The procurement of seven new electric ferries for small islands on the CalMac network is underway.
The goal is to provide standardised vessels capable of operating on a number of routes.
However, plans to build two new ferries for the Western Isles inter-island links
are excluded from this first phase of small ferry building. Badly needed replacements
for MV Loch Alainn on the Sound of Barra service and MV Loch Portain which plies
between Berneray and Leverburgh are not expected until after 2030.
Due to ferry breakdowns transport services on the Sound of Harris persisted at critical levels last autumn when MV Loch Portain suffered engine problems.
Only a special derogation negotiated from UK shipping regulator, Maritime and Coastguard
Agency (MCA) permitted a limited service - and only under fair weather conditions
- while spare parts were acquired from Asia.
Regular backlogs of stranded traffic built up between Uist and Harris, requiring MV Alfred to be called in to assist.
Bringing forward replacement of the two Western Isles vessels into the present phase was ruled out.
Ferguson Marine shipyard will not be directly awarded the contract to build the fleet of seven sister vessels.
The Scottish Government said tenders will be invited from competing ship builders.
A process running over the summer will assess if shipyards interested in bidding for the contract meet the financial and technical criteria to take on the project.
Estimated costs are around £175 million to construct the seven new vessels as well as port improvements and shore power upgrades.
The invitation to tender is expected to be issued to shipyards this September with a view to name the winning builder in March.
Transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said:“The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving our ferry fleet to better meet the needs of island communities, so I’m very pleased to see the procurement process for seven new small vessels get underway today.
“Our intention is that these ferries would be deployed on seven existing routes, but would also bring benefits to two other routes from the redeployment of existing vessels. These nine routes currently serve around 30% of the car and passenger carryings on the Clyde and Hebrides network.
“The new vessels will also be electric, helping us to deliver a significant improvement in emissions and local air quality and taking us towards a lower carbon ferry network.
“This procurement is a vital step forward in our plans to improve our ferry services and I look forward to following its progress closely over the coming months.”
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive officer at CMAL said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s
decision to progress the small vessels replacement programme. What matters for us
is being able to move forward with our plans to improve the fleet with new vessels.
This is great news for island communities, and we look forward to delivering the
all-electric lifeline vessels over the coming years.
Seven new small electric ferries for CalMac exclude Western Isles inter-
16 July 2024
