Late-running CalMac ferry Isle of Islay finally completed in 'important milestone'
Vessel expected to reach Scotland in February
The first of four ferries being built in Turkey for CalMac has finally been completed - 15 months late.
Isle of Islay, which will serve the island, was handed over on Thursday and is expected to take two weeks to reach Scotland.
That will be followed by several weeks of berthing and crew familarisation trials by CalMac before it enters service on the route between Kennacraig in Kintyre and Port Askaig in Islay.
Scottish Government ferry-buying firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) said the 450-passenger vessel had received approval and passenger certification from the Maritime Coastguard Agency regulator at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova.
The ferry was launched on schedule in March 2024 and should have been finished in October that year but was repeatedly delayed by supply problems and shipyard staff being redeployed to assist after a major earthquake.
It can also carry 100 cars or 14 lorries - 40 per cent more than existing vessels on the busy whisky route.
Sister vessel Loch Indaal, earmarked for the same route, is due to be completed in six months’ time.
Isle of Islay’s arrival will be crucial in relieving pressure on CalMac, whose ageing fleet is stretched to the limit because of increasing unreliability and extended repairs and overhauls.
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop described the handover as an “important milestone in the delivery of improvements to our lifeline ferry services” and said “full focus” was now on getting the ferry into service as soon as possible.
Cmal chief executive Kevin Hobbs said: “Taking ownership of Isle of Islay marks a great step forward in our plan to rejuvenate the Scottish ferry fleet.
“The team at Cemre have worked tirelessly to deliver this vessel under difficult global circumstances, and we’ll continue to work closely with them as they finish her sister vessel, Loch Indaal, and subsequent ferries Lochmor and Claymore, destined for the Skye triangle [with Harris and North Uist].”
The last two are due to be completed at six month intervals after Loch Indaal.
CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said: “Delivery of Isle of Islay is an exciting milestone in efforts to modernise CalMac’s major vessel fleet.
“The crew and local port teams are raring to go, and we will now undertake a period of essential familiarisation and trials to get her ready to enhance Islay’s service.
“Her arrival, and the subsequent arrival of her sister vessels, will enhance resilience across the whole major vessel fleet and increase our capability to provide consistent, reliable services for multiple island communities.”
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