MV Catriona starts final sea trials

The latest addition to ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne's fleet, MV Catriona, is starting advanced sea trials around Arran and Cumbrae.

The diesel electric hybrid ferry will be carrying out real time trials on the Largs/Cumbrae route from Sunday, August 14 to Saturday, August 20 and at Lochranza/Claonaig from Sunday, August 21 to Sunday, August 28.

The trials will not affect normal timetabled service and no passengers will be carried.

MV Catriona is the third passenger and vehicle roll-on roll-off ferry to incorporate a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and lithium battery power. The ship is almost 30 metres long and can accommodate 150 passengers and 23 cars or two HGVs and is owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).

It is the first ship to be built by the newly formed Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited in Port Glasgow and will follow the first two hybrid ferries MV Hallaig and MV Lochinvar into service with CalMac.

John Salton, Fleet Manager at Caledonian Maritime Assets said:

"The trials are designed to balance the diesel and battery output to ensure best fuel efficiency. We expect to deliver the vessel to CalMac for operation soon after completion of the trials."

CalMac's director of operations, Drew Collier said:

"We look forward to welcoming the MV Catriona into service following the successful conclusions of these trials."

The vessel will be officially handed over by owners CMAL in September. The vessel will be initially deployed on the Claonaig Lochranza crossing to meet increasing demand on this route from summer 2017.