A newbuild ferry to serve CalMac being built at a Turkish shipyard for a route in the Outer Hebrides has been successfully launched, marking a much-needed boost for Scotland’s island network.
On Saturday, the first of two twin-funnelled ferries, MV Lochmor, intended for the Little Minch route, was officially launched in Yalova at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard.
MV Lochmor and its sister vessel of around 6,100 tons, MV Claymore, will provide a two-ship service on the route linking Uig on Skye, Tarbert (Harris), and Lochmaddy (North Uist) which is currently served by the MV Hebrides.
A passenger capacity is for 450, along with vehicle space for 100 cars or 14 commercial vehicles on the 95 m long ferries.
Much more The Scotsman reports on the quartet of Turkish-built newbuilds, among them the Isle of Islay, which, as Afloat reported a year ago, was then delayed by two months but is now almost 11 months behind schedule.
Last month a second set of sea trials for the Isle of Islay took place in the Sea of Marmara and was attended by staff from Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. CMAL which owns the ferry is due for delivery in Q3 of this year before it enters CalMac operations.
The previous Lochmor was a passenger-only ferry, which Afloat adds was sold to Irish interests when it served the Aran Islands based out of Doolin, Co. Clare. Its next career was running coastal excursions at Torbay, Devon, on the English south coast.
