ISLE OF ISLAY

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New CalMac ferry may be completed in September now

The 'Isle of Islay' has reached an advance state of completion and on course to be finished by the Cemre shipyard before the end of September, provided all goes well with installing her battery system, the last haul of installation and most importantly endurance testing activities. The other three ships being built at the same yard, the 'Loch Indaal', 'Lochmor' and 'Claymore', were anticipated to follow a delivery schedule of six-month intervals from the handover of the 'Isle of Islay', which was due to be delivered in October 2024 and is running about nine months behind schedule. The Russian war in Ukraine impacting steel supplies, Houthi terrorist attacks on vessels heading for the Suez Canal through the Red Sea, and the earthquake in Turkey have contributed to the delay. Last minute hitches cannot be ruled out and engineering, mechanical and performance issues may emerge during a second series of endurance sea trials in a few weeks, which will take place a few miles off Yalova in the southern waters of the inland Marmara Sea, The first set of sea trials - called builders’ trials - over nine days at the end of May were successful. The vessel is still owned by the shipyard but representatives from CMAL and CalMac attended. This involved the set-up of the propulsion systems, generators, thrusters, stabilisers and associated electrical systems. These were then tested, trialled and measured with Lloyd’s Register and the Marine Coastguard Agency (MCA) in attendance. The vessel’s performance at full load was evaluated, including speed, stability, manoeuvrability, anchor deployment/recovery and endurance. The ship achieved the specified speed requirements. The trials also established the effectiveness of the vessel’s propulsion plant, automation and navigational systems.

Delivery of CalMac ferry pushed back again

The delivery date or the 'Isle of Islay' has been pushed back again due to problems with labour shortages at Yalova, particularly the availability of specialist commissioning sub-contractors. The ferry will not be finished until the end of June at the earliest when it was originally expected in October 2024. The delay has been caused by global issues outwith the yard's control. The problems with the delivery of the ferry from the Cemre yard was confirmed in a letter from CMAL to the net zero, energy and transport committee on Feb 28, 2025. While the yard builds the vessel and installs machinery, manufacturers need their own specialists to commission the systems to ensure warranties are secured. Snow and cold weather had also delayed the docking of the 'Isle of Islay' to check underwater parts and complete painting. The ferry was launched a year ago. The second ship, the 'Loch Indaal', was launched three months later and will not be completed until the end of the year at the earliest, when it was due for June.