A much-delayed newbuild, MV Isle of Islay, the first of four ferries being built by a Turkish shipyard for CalMac, has been formally handed over.
The new 5,851-ton ferry, which is to serve its island namesake off southwest Scotland, BBC News reports, has now been passed by the UK regulators and is expected next week to begin the two-week delivery voyage.
The largest domestic Scottish ferry operator will then need to carry out crew familiarization and berthing trials, and so it is likely the The new build is to enter service in early spring.
With a capacity for 450 passengers, MV Isle of Islay is to operate on the Kennacraig (Mull of Kintyre) route to Islay and Jura and also take 100 cars or 14 heavy goods vehicles. This will boost vehicle and freight capacity by 40% on the route, which is currently maintained by the 5,626-ton MV Finlaggan, which was custom built and introduced in 2011.
A ceremony at the Cemre shipyard in Yavlova took place to mark the transfer of ownership of MV Isle of Islay to the Scottish government-owned ferries body Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), which will then lease the new build to CalMac.
Originally the 95 m new build was scheduled for delivery in October 2024 but was not launched until August last year; however, a succession of delays have been blamed on labour shortages in addition to supply chain difficulties.
A twin newbuild for the Islay route, MV Loch Indaal, is due for delivery in six months. As for the remaining two ferries, work is progressing for the pair, each of around 6,100 tons, are destined to serve further north across the Little Minch, linking North Uist and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.
More BBC News reports on the newbuild replacements.
