The considerably delayed newbuilds for Scotland ferry operator, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) which are being built at Ferguson Marine shipyard, Port Glasgow, will it has emerged carry fewer passengers than first envisioned.

As STV reports, the reduction in passenger capacity of the leadship twins, Glen Sannox and recently named Glen Rosa, is in response to safety certification measures as required by the regulator, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).

This will see each ferry with a maximum carrying capacity of 1,000 reduced to 852 passengers, a difference of 148 in the original design of the newbuilds, with the first the Glen Sannox Afloat highlights was due to enter service in 2018.

Chief executive of the Scottish Government-owned shipyard, David Tydeman said the cost of the newbuilds has risen further, see previous coverage.

In a letter sent last week to MSP’s, he said Calmac and the agency Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) were considering a maximum capacity of 852 passengers to accommodate the required number of stairwells and passageways.

On Tuesday, transport minister Fiona Hyslop said CMAL would only take delivery of the newbuilds, once they had been signed off by the MCA, in addition to the regulator, the class society, which surveys ships.

The minister told the Scottish Parliament that all systems including the Liquid National Gas (LNG) propulsion system will need to be completed, something which will require special pipework.

More here on the ongoing ferry story.