Work has officially begun on seven new loch-class electric ferries for Scotland’s island communities, following the steel-cutting ceremony at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdańsk, Poland.
The Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP) will deliver seven fully electric ferries in this first phase, a £160 million investment from the Scottish Government. The shipbuilding contract is valued at £147.5 million. Delivery of the first vessel is expected in 2027.
The new ferries will serve routes including Colintraive–Rhubodach, Lochaline–Fishnish, Tarbert–Portavadie, Iona–Fionnphort, Sconser–Raasay, Tobermory–Kilchoan and Tayinloan–Gigha. Through cascading, the Largs–Cumbrae and Oban–Lismore routes will also benefit.
Rendering: Navalue
SVRP steel cutting – Mr Andzej Aksman, Project Director at Rementowa Shipbuilding with Kevin Hobbs, CEO of CMAL
