In Scotland the ferry bosses which own Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) vessels, have revealed the name of the second delayed newbuild under construction by Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde.

The long-delayed ferry which for years has only been known as Hull 802, is to be named the Glen Rosa following a list of selected names given in an online public vote.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), the body which owns CalMac vessels as well as the port and harbour infrastructure, announced the name from the listed options: Glen Coy, Glen Rosa and Claymore. 

In the public vote, nearly 5,000 people took part in the name the ferry competition.

Of the three names, Glen Rosa, which is Gleann Ruasaidh in Gaelic, was the public’s most popular, winning 52 per cent of all votes cast.

The dual-fuel powered ferries, each of 102m in length, were due to enter service in 2018 at a price of £97 million, however delays have led to spiralling costs which could amount to more than three times that figure.

More from The Scotsman on the 1,000 passenger newbuild.

The winning name Afloat adds refers to the glen near Goat Fell (874m) the highest point on Arran in the Firth of Clyde where the newbuild will also serve with twin Glen Sannox also being built at Ferguson Marine.

The ferries, each capable of carrying 127 cars or 16 HGVs, or a combination of both will operate on the Ardrossan-Brodick, Arran route.

They will operate on both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel. LNG is significantly cleaner and has been adopted by ferry operators in northern Europe in response to tighter emissions regulations

A 430 passenger /98 car carrying catamaran, chartered by CalMac for £9m, which is to ease the strain on their Forth of Clyde ferry link to the Isle of Arran has set sail on Friday after weeks of delays.

The Scottish Government so writes STV News, announced in March that it had chartered the 2019 built MV Alfred from Orkney Isles operator Pentland Ferries for nine months to supplement their west coast service at a cost of £9m.

MV Alfred which can also handle 16 lorries, normally serves the Pentland Forth crossing from the mainland at Gills Bay, Caithness (near John o'Groats) to St Margaret’s Hope on South Ronaldsey.

The charter of the 2,963 gross tonnage catamaran was due to begin on April 18, however a fault with its hydraulic systems delayed the start of operations.

On completion of successful berthing trials, CalMac made an announcement on Thursday that the Alfred would finally commence service between Ardrossan and Brodick on Arran. 

CalMac said that it will carry passengers on a “turn up and go basis” as part of a two-week trial. This is to determine whether it is a viable vessel for the route on which more can be read here.

Afloat adds that the service's main ferry, Caledonian Isles is operating to its timetable.

In addition to Alfred conducting berthing trials at Ardrossan (Irish Berth) and Brodick, such activity also took place at Campbeltown, Lochmaddy, Port Askaig, Ullapool and Troon.