Exclusive:Ferries fiasco: Glen Rosa and Isle of Islay both facing yet more delays
Updates on Friday expected to reveal further delivery setbacks
The completion of two new major ferries being built for CalMac is expected to be delayed yet again, The Scotsman has learned.
The further setbacks to the already hugely-late Glen Rosa, as well as Isle of Islay, are anticipated to be confirmed in updates to a Holyrood committee due on Friday.
A potential additional hold-up to Glen Rosa being finished was referred to on Thursday in the Ferguson Marine shipyard’s just-published annual report and financial statements.
The Scottish Government-owned yard announced in May that delivery of the 850-passenger ferry, due seven years ago, would be postponed from September until between April and June next year. The estimated cost also increased from £150 million to £185m.
In a foreword to the annual report, dated December 12, chief financial officer David Dishon said of Glen Rosa: “At the time of writing, we are reviewing the schedule for both delivery date and cost.”
The ferry is due to join sister ship Glen Sannox, completed last November, between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick in Arran. Glen Sannox entered service in January.
Meantime, Isle of Islay, the first of four 450-passenger ferries being built in Turkey, is not expected to be finished by its latest deadline of Christmas, which had been described as a “challenge”.
The vessel is already 14 months late after being originally expected in October 2024, but has been delayed by external problems such as supply shortages.
It is due to operate between Kennacraig in Kintyre and Port Askaig in Islay.
A ferry source told The Scotsman: “We are hearing that delivery of the Isle of Islay may be further delayed and that she might not be joining the service as soon as hoped.”
Updates on both ferries are scheduled to be lodged with the Scottish Parliament’s net zero, energy and transport committee on Friday.
The Scottish Government’s ferry-buying firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) said it was unable to comment on the Isle of Islay update until it was sent to the committee.
Two weeks ago, Cmal chief executive Kevin Hobbs wrote to the committee: “If all completion activities go smoothly, the [Cemre] shipyard is targeting delivery of MV Isle of Islay prior to the Christmas period.
“This will be a challenge but Cmal, CalMac, Cemre and the regulatory authorities are all working hard and collaboratively towards reaching this target date for vessel delivery just before the Christmas holidays. Noting this is the target but without guarantee.”
Ferguson Marine said the plan for Glen Rosa was always due to be reviewed around now, so it should not come as a surprise to be referenced in the accounts.
The annual report also stated that without the direct award of further contracts, over which the yard has lobbied ministers, it “would struggle to be competitive for new work to follow on after Glen Rosa has been delivered”.
It said: “The shipyard will use that period of time to embark on a capital upgrade of the yard, using the £14.2m commitment by Scottish Government in the shipyard facilities, tools and equipment, systems, people and processes.”
The yard also said it had received a new “letter of comfort” from ministers in November “reaffirming a confirmation of continuing support”.
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