HEBRIDEAN ISLES to be retired as CalMac and CMAL modernise major vessel fleet:
Source: CalMac.co.uk
Ferguson Marine has announced a further delay to the two vessels under construction for CMAL/Calmac.
The first vessel GLEN SANNOX (Hull 801) will now be delivered between Autumn 2023 and the end of 2023. The second vessel (Hull 802) will be delivered between autumn 2024 and the end of 2024.
The vessels, now over 5 years late, were most recently due in May 2023 and March 2024.
The further delays are attributed to a variety of issues connected to the difficult construction history of the ships.
Photo: Ferguson Marine
The David MacBrayne Limited Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending March 2022 has revealed about CalMac:
“We continue to work with partners including CMAL and Transport Scotland to support the successful delivery of additional vessels and are looking forward to welcoming 16 new vessels to the fleet over the next five years. This will bring significant service improvements to our fleet, improving reliability across the network that will benefit our customers, communities, and visitors.”
CEO Robbie Drummond
CalMac has been searching for solutions to enhance capacity and resilience within its network. One possible vessel was PENTALINA from Pentland Ferries.
Robbie Drummond CEO CalMac: “Berthing trials had shown she could successfully operate services to Arran and Mull and we were looking forward to her deployment. Unfortunately, Pentland Ferries have decided not to enter into a charter agreement for the use of PENTALINA on our network. We are surprised and disappointed by this unexpected news.”
CalMac had first inquired about chartering PENTALINA end of March. Later an engine failure of CalMac’s biggest vessel, LOCH SEAFORTH, caused weeks of chaos across the ferry network.
Managing director of Pentland Ferries, Andrew Banks: “I would like to stress that the talks with CalMac Ferries were positive and constructive. However, our priority has to be to the continued viability of Pentland Ferries, and to our employees and passengers. We cannot commit to a scenario whereby external factors have the potential to cause severe risk and reputational damage to the business that we have worked so hard to build, and unfortunately we have therefore let CalMac know of our decision.” [Source: Hebrides News]
Ferguson’s Bosses Say It Will Be Three Years Before MV Glen Sannox And Sister Ship Are Completed
The dual fuel ferries for CalMac were supposed to have been finished years ago but the £97m project ran into major trouble and has since more than doubled in price.
CalMac is to bring in extra staff to help support passengers who end up in long queues on the Largs Cumbrae route.
Current restrictions on board due to the ongoing Covid crisis means average capacity across CalMac’s fleet is running at around 35% compared to normal.
The extra staff will be on hand to assist and advise passengers on the route which, due to a combination of good weather and capacity restrictions required by social distancing, has seen lengthy waiting times recently.
Queues of up to three hours have impacted day trippers, tourists and islanders trying to get to and from the popular island of Great Cumbrae.
Only Serco Northlink and CalMac are candidates for the GBP 370 million contract currently tendered by government agency Transport Scotland, after FRS decided to pull out. The two remaining candidates submitted tender on 29 April. Now Transport Scotland has to take a decision.
The contract is starting on 31 October and lasts eight years.
Ferguson’s Bosses Welcome an Investigation into The Future of Shipyard – And Insist That Business Is Booming
Ferguson’s bosses have welcomed an investigation into a delayed £97m ferry contract and the future of yard – and insist that business is booming.
Company chief executive Gerry Marshall has broken his silence after a senior Scottish Government minister confirmed a further setback in the delivery of the two new CalMac vessels which are under construction at the Newark site.
GLEN SANNOX is now 14 months late. Hull 802 is around 20 months behind schedule.
Ferguson’s and CMAL are in dispute over the extent of changes made to the design of the ships.
Three Bidders Invited To Apply For Contract To Run Ferries For The Northern Isles
The invitation to tender for the next contract to run ferries to the Northern Isles has been issued to three bidders.
Submission of final tenders is scheduled for March 2019, with a view to awarding the contract in July 2019.
The contract is estimated to be worth £370m and will run for eight years. Two of the bidders are current holders Serco as NorthLink and Calmac – the third is not known.
