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.