Two new ferries for Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service
On 15 October 2014, Transport Minister, Keith Brown announced that the procurement process to build and design two new ferries for use on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network had been launched. The ferries are being designed to provide a fully flexible year-round service for Arran and the Uig Triangle, subject to final review by CalMac Ferries Ltd, CMAL and Transport Scotland. The vessels they replace will be cascaded throughout the network.
In October 2015, following a rigorous procurement process, we announced that Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) in Port Glasgow had been awarded the contract worth £97 million to build the two 102 metre dual fuel ferries. FMEL will undertake the detailed design and construction work of the new vessels in Scotland, as well as testing, equipping, launching and delivery. The first ferry is expected to enter service in early 2018, with the second vessel following a few months later.
The ferries will be dual fuel vessels so they can operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel. LNG is significantly cleaner and has been adopted by ferry operators in Northern Europe in response to tighter emissions regulations.
The ships are being designed to carry 127 cars or 16 HGVs or a combination of both and up to 1,000 passengers. The ships will be capable of operating across a range of drafts and speeds to meet the requirements of the current operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd, to service a wide range of ports and routes.
The contract will provide a boost for commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde and follows the shipyard’s delivery of the first two hybrid ferries for the CMAL fleet, with the third due to launch in December 2015.
Categories: Ferries, MV Glen Sannox & MV Glen Rosa, Projects
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