Twin dual-fuel powered ferries being built at Ferguson Marine shipyard on the Clyde are facing further delays after demands for design changes by the safety regulator.
According to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) doors will have to be modified and extra staircases installed on both the M.V. Glen Sannox and the unnamed Hull 802.
Both newbuilds, with around 1,000 passengers each, are to serve CalMac's Ardrossan-Brodick (Arran) route, were to have scheduled sea trials, however they will now be delayed until the first few months of 2024.
The Glen Sannox which was launched in 2018, is due to enter service on CalMac's busiest route, by the end of 2023 while the Hull 802 is not set to take to water with passengers until summer 2024.
Managing director of the Inverclyde shipyard, David Tydeman at Holywood, told the Scottish Parliament's transport committee that he hopes to reach a final agreement with the safety regulator within the next two weeks
.
STV News has more on this latest development affecting the timeframe of the newbuild's delivery into service.