Newbuild Glen Sannox sailed from Greenock on the Clyde to the Isle of Arran on Tuesday, giving islanders their first glimpse of the long-delayed Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferry. The new ship yesterday successfully berthed at Brodick’s pier.
The first of the twin dual-fuel powered newbuilds writes Irvine Times was built downriver in Port Glasgow at the Ferguson Marine shipyard and had carried out sea trials on the Firth of Clyde this week. Its’ anticipated delivery date to the Scottish Government ferry procurement body Caledonian McBrayne Assets Ltd (CMAL) draws now ever closer.
The event drew in not only ferry fans but also the wider community of the island dubbed the ‘Scotland in miniature’, with dozens flocking around the CalMac ferry terminal to welcome the twin funnel newbuild.
This is the latest milestone for the controversial ferry and follows Ferguson Marine successfully bunkering Glen Sannox’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel on board twice within the last fortnight.
The bunkering of the LNG ferry was the first operation of its kind to have been carried out in the UK.
More here on this more positive development from the long-going saga as the ferry was due to have entered service in 2018.
The Glen Sannox Afloat highlights is to be followed by twin, Glen Rosa, on the route, replacing the aging tonnage of the Caledonian Isles (31 years), which returned to dry dock for ongoing problems, while the Isle of Arran (40 years) is off service for routine annual overhaul.
Both ferries were tracked to Dales Marine Services at the James Watt Dock also in Greenock.
