CalMac's brand new Islay ferry weeks away from carrying first passengers
Isle of Islay leaves Greenock for port trials across west coast
CalMac’s brand new ferry is to start sea and port trials imminently ahead of carrying its first passengers, which is expected to be within two weeks.
Isle of Islay is due to leave dry dock in Greenock on Tuesday or Wednesday following two weeks of mandatory hull checks after reaching Scotland at the end of a storm-battered voyage from its Turkish shipyard which took twice as long as expected.
CalMac said the 450-passenger vessel would visit Troon, Brodick in Arran and Campbeltown on Wednesday, to check whether it could operate from those ports in the future if required.
The ferry will then head to Port Askaig in Islay for commissioning works and crew training.
Visits to Colonsay, Oban, Coll, Tiree, Castlebay in Barra, Lochmaddy in North Uist, Stornoway in Lewis, Ullapool, Tarbert in Harris and Uig in Skye will follow between Saturday and next Tuesday.
Isle of Islay is then due to sail to Kennacraig in Kintyre on Wednesday March 18 for final preparations for entering service on the route to Port Askaig, which is expected to be between Friday March 20 and Monday March 23.
The vessel will then increase sailings up to the start of the summer timetable on Friday March 27.
It will connect with the Argyll and Bute Council ferry service between Port Askaig and Feolin in Jura.
However, the port trials will not include Port Ellen in Islay because the ferry will not fit the harbour until its redevelopment is finished in 2029.
CalMac also said that Ardrossan on the Brodick route would not be included because Isle of Islay would be tidally restricted due to its draft until the port is upgraded.
Craignure in Mull has also been discounted because the ferry is too heavy for that port.
Isle of Islay was completed 15 months late at the Cemre Marin Endustri yard in Yalova, which is also building three sister vessels - Loch Indaal for the same route, and Lochmor and Claymore for the “Skye triangle” routes to Harris and North Uist.
They are due to be delivered at six month intervals from July.
CalMac fleet management director Louis de Wolff said: “Network trials are a key part of getting Isle of Islay ready for service as we will get a clear picture of where she and her three sister vessels can operate.
“That is vital for building in the resilience and flexibility in services we expect these new vessels to bring and should allow us to shorten the time it takes to get Loch Indaal, Lochmor and Claymore into service once they are delivered.”
Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Full focus remains on preparing Isle of Islay to enter service as soon as is practicable for the people and economy of Islay and Jura.”
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