Latest updates

MV Glen Sannox returns to Port Glasgow

August 2022

MV Glen Sannox has returned to Port Glasgow from a brief but essential stay at dry dock in Greenock.

The vessel – one of two dual-fuel ferries being built at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) (FMPG) – has spent three weeks at Dales Marine for essential works on its propulsion systems, seals and bow doors. She was also given a fresh coat of paint. Read the full update on the Ferguson Marine website here.

MV Glen Sannox sets sail to milestone dry-docking

July 2022

MV Glen Sannox has left Port Glasgow, heading down the Clyde for a three-week stay in dry dock in Greenock, where finishing touches will be made to internal systems including its propulsion, and for a fresh coat of paint to its hull. Read the full update on the Ferguson Marine website here.

First MV Glen Sannox engine switched on

July 2022

The first emergency diesel generator has been run successfully on MV Glen Sannox, one of two dual fuel vessels being built at Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow). Read the full update on the Ferguson Marine website here.

Milestone at Ferguson Marine for Hull 802 as resources ramp-up

April 2022

Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) has announced the completion of a major milestone in the build of one of the dual fuel ferries currently under construction.

Hull 802, as the vessel is currently known, was fitted with its large bow unit which, at 100 tonnes, is the largest single unit added to the ferry’s steel hull. Read the full update on the Ferguson Marine website here.

Further delay to vessels

August 2020

Following the statement made in parliament about the delay to the dual fuel ferries, our chief executive, Kevin Hobbs, said:

“It is very disappointing to be informed of a further delay to the delivery of our two dual fuel vessels.  I know people living in island communities will share our disappointment.  That said, we’re experiencing a global pandemic, which has impacted every business in the country.  The Covid-19 lockdown was an exceptional circumstance; it is hardly surprising it has impacted on the shipbuilding process.”

Ferry inquiry

March 2020

Our chief executive, Kevin Hobbs, and director of vessels, Jim Anderson, have provided oral evidence to the Rural Economy and Connectivity (REC) Committee inquiry into construction and procurement of ferry vessels in Scotland.

We also submitted written evidence, which can be read online at the Scottish Parliament’s website: https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Rural/General%20Documents/RECC_CMAL_FI.pdf

Further information on the inquiry, as well as copies of written evidence and correspondence submitted to the Committee, can be found on the Scottish Parliament website

 

Shipyard and contract timelines

18 December 2019

Our chief executive, Kevin Hobbs, has responded to the statement made today in the Scottish Parliament about the shipyard and dual fuel ferry contract.

Kevin Hobbs said:

“We are disappointed and frustrated by the cost and timeline information that has been shared today by Scottish Ministers.  Island communities will share our disappointment, knowing they have to wait for the new vessels, which are desperately needed.

“The contract is robust in terms of budget and timescales, based on decades of shipbuilding experience within the CMAL team.  The agreed contract price for two dual fuel vessels is comparable with budgets for LNG vessels built across Europe and around the world and should have been achieved.

“Our main priority remains to secure the delivery of the two vessels, as expeditiously as possible.  We remain committed to working with the shipyard management team to progress the vessels to completion.”

 

Project update

August 2018

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity Michael Matheson said:

“Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd has advised us that the first vessel, the MV Glen Sannox, will now be delivered during summer 2019, and the second vessel in spring 2020.

“While this further delay is disappointing, it is important to focus on the fact that we will have two new ships joining the fleet serving the Clyde and Hebrides network that have been built in Scotland, providing vital support to our ship building industry.”

 

First Minister launches first LNG ferry on the Clyde

November 2017

MV Glen Sannox, the UK’s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) ferry, was launched on the Clyde by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.  The first of the two dual fuel vessels was launched at Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited’s (FMEL) Port Glasgow shipyard.  Read more

 

88-tonne fuel tank delivered for first ferry

July 2017

An 88-tonne liquefied natural gas (LNG) tank has been delivered to Ferguson shipyard for the first LNG ferry.

The unloading operation involved 20 specialised personnel and equipment to raise the 147m3 tank off a barge at the quayside using a specialised 750-tonne heavy lift crane.

The tank, supplied by Wartsila, is made from double-skinned stainless steel and perlite insulation.  It is the single largest component required for the construction of the vessels.

Andy Crossan, Projects Director at CMAL said:

“This was a highly challenging engineering process to secure the safe delivery of the first LNG tank into the yard.  Our team, working with our partners and suppliers, has been involved in planning the transport and delivery logistics of this for the past two months and it’s fantastic to finally see its arrival.

“The tank is hugely impressive and its arrival reminds us of the scale of the project we are delivering.  The design and build of these dual fuel vessels is a highly complex technical project, the first of its kind in Scotland – and indeed the UK.  It is a sign of our commitment to exploring new technologies for ferries, as well as a wider commitment to innovation in Scotland and consideration for the environmental impact of transport.”

 

New name for first LNG ferry

June 2017

MV Glen Sannox has been chosen as the name for the first dual fuel ferry. Read more.

 

Project update

April 2017

Click here to view the presentation given to the Arran Ferry Committee on 10th April 2017 (PDF, 6mb)

 

Fabrication progress update

March 2017

The construction of the two dual fuel ferries is approaching a new project milestone as the first vessel, currently known as Hull 801, nears the 75 per cent steel work fabrication stage.  The second vessel, Hull 802 is following closely behind, currently at 60 per cent steel work fabrication.

Two hulls side by side at shipyard

The 102 metre vessels will be capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO), reducing emissions to help meet Scottish Government reduction targets across transport.  They are being designed to provide a fully flexible, year-round service for Arran and the Skye Triangle routes.

Last month, the dual fuel engines that will power the vessels were delivered to Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited’s shipyard in Port Glasgow, where the ships are being built.  The 147m3 LNG tanks supplied by Wartsila – a stand out feature of the new vessels, measuring 20.4 metres in length and 4 metres in diameter – are nearing completion and are expected to be delivered to the shipyard in June 2017.  Work is also underway on the aluminium superstructure that will form the accommodation block of the ships.

Dual fuel engines are delivered

The new ships will be highly manoeuvrable, with Twist Flow Costa Bulb Flap Rudders, three 620 kW bow thrusters and a 480 kW stern thruster.  An innovative stern ramp will slide transversely, allowing the ships to operate on several routes across the service network.

LNG fuel tank

CMAL, which owns ferries, ports and harbours across the west coast of Scotland, has published a series of project photos of the hulls, engines and fuel tanks, as well as artist impressions to visualise what the ships will look like when complete.

The new vessels are earmarked for the Arran and Skye Triangle routes, although the final decision on routes is subject to review by CalMac Ferries Ltd, CMAL and Transport Scotland.  The first ferry is expected to enter service in the second half of 2018, with the second vessel following a few months later.

Artist impression

LNG tank ready for delivery

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tank for vessel 801 is ready to be delivered to the shipyard for installation following the successful completion of tests, including inspection under the approval of Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, the classification society for the vessel.

The impressive tank is over 20 metres in length, 4.5 metres high and weighs over 80 tonnes, making it the largest and heaviest single component on the new vessel. It has an internal volume of 149m3 and can hold approximately 70 tonnes of LNG.

The tank has been designed by Wartsila, the main contractor for the ship’s propulsion package, and has been built in China by Furuisi under contract to Wartsila. Furuisi is a highly-experienced manufacturer of LNG tanks for road vehicles, land installations and ships. The tank will be transported to Scotland by road and sea.

Inside the tank connection space

The tank is constructed using stainless steel material, made up of an inner and outer tank, with an insulation material placed in between. A vacuum has been created in the space between the tanks to provide maximum thermal insulation between the cold LNG (-163̊C) and the machinery space the tank will be located in. This configuration also acts as a containment barrier in the event of any leak of LNG from the inner tank.

A room is attached to one end of the tank – the tank connection space or TCS – and this contains the process control equipment for the system to allow gas to be supplied to the engines in the correct quantities as required.

 

Setting sail for a greener future

July 2016

Richard Hadfield of Transport Scotland’s ferries unit visits Ferguson Marine Engineering in Port Glasgow and witnesses work on the two state-of-the-art vessels.

 

Steel cutting

February 2016

Steel was cut on 17 February 2016 for our two new ferries being built by Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL), marking the start of construction on the £97 million vessels.

Dual Fuel

The steel cutting ceremony took place at FMEL shipyard in Port Glasgow, where the ships are being built. Derek Mackay, the Scottish Government Minister for Transport and the Islands, joined Tom Docherty, former CEO and Liam Campbell from FMEL, to push the button to start the steel cutting machine.

The new 102m, roll on roll off vehicle passenger ferries are designed to carry 127 cars or 16 HGVs or a combination of both and up to 1,000 passengers.  The ships will be capable of operating across a range of drafts and speeds to meet the requirements of the operator to service a wide range of ports and routes.

The ferries will be dual fuel vessels so they can operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil. LNG is significantly cleaner and has been adopted by ferry operators in Northern Europe in response to tighter emissions regulations. FMEL will undertake the detailed design and construction work of the new vessels in Scotland, as well as their testing, equipping, launching and delivery. The designs and drawings will be shared on our website when they are finalised in the coming months.

Erik Ostergaard, CMAL chair, said:

“The new ferries will provide a lifeline ferry service for the communities they will serve and are currently earmarked for the crossing between Ardrossan and Brodick and on the Uig Triangle route, although the final decision on vessel deployment rests with the ferry operator. We look forward to taking delivery of the ferries in 2018.”

We anticipate the first ferry launching late in 2017 and entering service in 2018, with the second vessel following a few months later. The vessels are currently known as hulls 801 and 802 and we will run a competition later in the year to name the new ferries.

We met with Community Councillors in North Uist to deliver a presentation on the new ferries.  A copy of the PowerPoint presentation, which includes early designs, a comparison with the existing ferry service and information on the LNG fuel is available here.

Fabrication is now underway and the images below show progress to date.

Images of steel cutting ceremony are copyright of Mark Gibson at the Evening Times

Dual Ferrier Updatea

Two new ferries for Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service

On 15 October 2014, Transport Minister, Keith Brown announced that the procurement process to build and design two new ferries for use on the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network had been launched. The ferries are being designed to provide a fully flexible year-round service for Arran and the Uig Triangle, subject to final review by CalMac Ferries Ltd, CMAL and Transport Scotland.  The vessels they replace will be cascaded throughout the network.

In October 2015, following a rigorous procurement process, we announced that Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) in Port Glasgow had been awarded the contract worth £97 million to build the two 102 metre dual fuel ferries. FMEL will undertake the detailed design and construction work of the new vessels in Scotland, as well as testing, equipping, launching and delivery. The first ferry is expected to enter service in early 2018, with the second vessel following a few months later.

The ferries will be dual fuel vessels so they can operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine diesel. LNG is significantly cleaner and has been adopted by ferry operators in Northern Europe in response to tighter emissions regulations.

The ships are being designed to carry 127 cars or 16 HGVs or a combination of both and up to 1,000 passengers. The ships will be capable of operating across a range of drafts and speeds to meet the requirements of the current operator, CalMac Ferries Ltd, to service a wide range of ports and routes.

The contract will provide a boost for commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde and follows the shipyard’s delivery of the first two hybrid ferries for the CMAL fleet, with the third due to launch in December 2015.

FERGUSONS STURGEON 3