At a shipyard in Turkey, infrastructure body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has taken formal ownership of three ferries being built. They are to serve CalMac routes on Scotland’s west coast—despite them not yet being completed.
The three ferries are being constructed overseas at the Cemre shipyard to join the CalMac fleet in a bid to ease pressures caused by the Scottish state-owned company’s ageing vessels.
While still under construction, CMAL—which owns the ferry, port, and harbour infrastructure needed to run lifeline services—has now taken ownership of the newbuilds as a “precautionary” measure.
The development comes as businesses in the Turkish region are struggling amid challenging global circumstances. Notably, such disruption is caused by the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, combined with ongoing disruption in the Red Sea.
STV News has more on the story.
Afloat adds that the MV Claymore is planned to be deployed alongside MV Lochmor on the Little Minch routes linking Uig on the Isle of Skye, Tarbert on the Isle of Harris, and Lochmaddy in North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
Already in service is the first of the newbuild quartet from Turkey, the 5,851-tonne Isle of Islay, which serves its namesake island from Kennacraig on the Mull of Kintyre, Colonsay, and Oban.
