Exclusive:New hold-up to Turkey-built CalMac ferry doubles delay to completion

The confirmation came as CalMac revealed its ageing Caledonian Isles ferry, which has been out of action since January, will not now return to service on its busiest route until the end of next week because of the need for further repairs.

The Turkish setback has been attributed to hold-ups in the delivery of parts for the Isle of Islay vessel and a shortage of specialist workers at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard.

The ferry, which was launched on time in March, is not now expected to be finished until between January and March compared to mid-October this year originally.

Scottish Government-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), which placed the order, said the “disappointing” delay would also put back completion of the three other ferries.

Loch Indaal, which was launched as planned in June, is now due to be completed between April and June - also up to four months late.

Lochmor is due to be launched this month with its completion delayed from June to between July and September. Claymore is to be launched in December, with its completion date put back from next October to between then and December.

Isle of Islay and Loch Indaal are scheduled to serve Islay, while the other two are due to be deployed on the Little Minch routes between Skye, Harris and North Uist.

The latest delay to Isle of Islay follows a two-month delay to December being announced in August, when Cmal said materials and equipment were taking longer to arrive because of unrest around the Red Sea, the war in Ukraine and a major earthquake in Turkey.

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Cmal chief executive Kevin Hobbs told MSPs in a letter: “The further assessment of the impacts of the supply chain issues outwith the shipyard’s control, related specialist contractor availability, and review of required approvals processes indicates delivery of the first vessel, Isle of Islay, beyond the end of December.

“Comparison of the original programme and the current completion estimates suggest that the delivery date will be extended by four months from the original scheduled date of mid-October.

“There are risks and uncertainties, particularly with specialist equipment supply chains, which may shorten or extend this timeframe by a matter of weeks. Many of the same factors will also lead to a change in the delivery dates to the later vessels, but these are not expected to be as significant as on the first vessel.

“We continue to monitor closely global events that may give rise to further challenges beyond those already reported regarding the supply chain issues.”

Mr Hobbs had told The Scotsman in August he hoped further delays could be delayed by fast-tracking the delivery of parts.

His letter to the Scottish Parliament’s net zero, energy and transport committee added: “We are disappointed to be reporting the change in delivery dates, but can assure the committee that we are taking all reasonable steps to work with the yard and wider project partners to minimise and mitigate the impacts.”

Mr Hobbs also reported a possible slight cost increase to the project.

He said: “The overall costs of delivering the four vessels, including Cmal and CalMac costs, remain largely on track, but a further risk allowance of around 3 per cent is being applied for budgeting purposes until such time as final costs can be reconciled.

“We can report that good progress has been made with the propulsion machinery commissioning activities on the vessel. Each of the four main engines/generators have been tested at full load with the vessel alongside at the quay in the shipyard.”

Jim Porteous, secretary of the Islay Community Council ferry committee, said: “Disappointing news re further delay in delivery of Isle of Islay.

“We have already raised the alarm that a single vessel service with Finlaggan [the route’s main vessel] on her own for most of the winter is not adequate in relation to anticipated demand.

“There now has to be further discussion with CalMac re their vessel deployment plan for March 9 to 27 when Finlaggan is due for annual overhaul.

“Currently Isle of Arran is allocated to the Islay route on her own and clearly would be totally inadequate unless working with either the new vessel or a reasonable-sized substitute.”

Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Graham Simpson said: “This further delay is deeply disappointing and will be a blow to islanders hoping to be able to use this new ferry.

“We’re seeing the impact of years of under-investment in our ferries on a daily basis, with cancellations and service changes which cause big problems for islanders.”

Scottish Labour transport spokesperson Claire Baker said: “These delays are another blow to island communities who have been dealing with years of ferry chaos under the SNP. The SNP has been far too slow to replace Scotland’s ageing ferry fleet and now islanders are being asked to wait even longer.”

Meanwhile, CalMac has announced a further ten-day delay to the return of 31-year-old Caledonian Isles ferry to its main Arran route between Ardrossan and Brodick, which should have happened eight days ago.

The Scottish Government-owned operator said investigations had shown a full overhaul of one of the vessel’s gearboxes was required after a problem was found at the start of last week.

Its spokesperson said: “It is anticipated it may be a further ten days before the vessel can return to service. This is subject to change based on repairs and alignment [of the gearbox and engine].”

The delay has forced CalMac to move ferries around its network because Isle of Aran, the secondary vessel on the island’s main route, has now gone for its annual overhaul.

Hebridean Isles has been redeployed to the route from Islay, and Lord of the Isles from South Uist to Islay.

The main Mull ferry, Isle of Mull, will also operate some South Uist sailings from Thursday, triggering cancellations on the main Mull route between Oban and Craignure.

Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene said: “This latest delay is yet another in a seemingly endless series of technical problems. The people of Arran have been let down again and again, and there will be knock-on effects for other islanders as vessels are shuffled around to cover routes.”