The operation to remove the sunken barge near the entrance to Kennacraig Harbour has been successfully completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Removing the barge

CMAL employed marine contractors Herbosch-Kiere who used their large working barge, Waasland, to excavate and remove the old Thames barge which sunk in the 1970’s.

Project managed by consultant engineers Halcrow, the project was vital to allow the new CMAL ferry currently being built in Poland, MV Finlaggan, to berth at Kennacraig next spring.

With no disruption to ferry services, the work was carried out during the day using an 85 tonne excavator and a 325 tonne crane. The old sunken barge was successfully removed from the seabed adjacent to the linkspan berth with the steel then broken up and sent for recycling.

Waasland barge

CMAL Director of Harbour and Piers, Lorna Spencer, said: "The successful operation to remove the sunken barge was essential to allowing safe berthing of our new larger ferry, the MV Finlaggan, which will bring great benefits to all who use her. We now look forward to the launch of this new modern, fit for purpose ferry at the Remontowa Yard in Gdansk, Poland at the end of June."

Notes to Editors

  • This was a CMAL project managed by consultant engineers Halcrow
  • The Waasland barge was towed from Antwerp by marine contractors Herbosch-Kiere and used an 85 tonne 360 degree excavator and a 325 tonne crawler crane to aid the removal of the sunken barge.
  • The removal of the sunken barge, which lies at the entrance of Kennacraig Harbour, was essential for the new ferry MV Finlaggan to berth at the pier.
  • CMAL own property at piers and harbours at more than 24 locations throughout Scotland and are embarking on a programme of investment and improvements which will create better facilities.
  • In addition to its pier and harbour facilities CMAL owns 31 ferries which are leased to CalMac Ferries Ltd and Cowal Ferries Ltd.
  • CMAL is a publicly owned company with Scottish Ministers as the sole shareholder.

For further information please contact:

Elise Clayton, Account Manager, Golley Slater
0131 272 2733 / elise.clayton@golleyslater.co.uk