Update on progress of Islay ferry

• Date: 20 October 2009
• Location: Bowmore Hall, Islay
• Attendee: A team from the Vessels Department at CMAL

A team from the Vessels Department at CMAL will be in Islay on Tuesday 20 October at the Bowmore Hall to update members of the public on the ferry's progress from 4.30pm-7.30pm.

The new Islay ferry will be the first new ship to serve the route in thirty-seven years and marks a major investment in vessels from CMAL.

Small Ferries Project Conference

• Date: 29 September 2009
• Location: Scotland House, Brussels
• Attendee: Ronald Vopel , Marine Policy at the European Commission; Pelin Zhou, Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Strathclyde University and Ko Ko Naing of Stena AB.

The team behind the Small Ferries Project is to hold a one-day conference  in Brussels to raise awareness of the project, which aims to develop a strategic plan for a new fleet of small vessels to serve remote and island communities off the Scottish and Irish coastlines.

Conference topics will include:

• 'Small Ferries: Financing Solutions through Cross-border Collaboration?'
• 'The Social and Economic Importance of Lifeline Ferry Services’
• 'Low Carbon Ferries: A Vision for the Future'

The future of Lifeline Ferry Services will also be discussed with guest speakers including Ronald Vopel , Marine Policy at the European Commission; Pelin Zhou, Professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering at Strathclyde University and Ko Ko Naing of Stena AB.

HRH Princess Royal to re-open Largs Pier

• Date: 10 September 2009
• Location: Largs Pier, Largs
• Attendee: HRH The Princess Royal

HRH The Princess Royal is set to re-open the historic pier in the popular Ayrshire seaside town of Largs later this summer.

Princess Anne will perform the opening ceremony on Thursday 10th September following CMAL’s £6M project to safeguard the future of the pier, which was originally built in 1834.