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Ferry finally handed over by Ferguson Shipyard

The 'Glen Sannox' has been handed over by the Ferguson shipyard to the Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. on the night of Nov 20, exactly seven years after it was launched by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, being the first new large vessel for the west coast ferry fleet in nearly a decade. The ferry operator CalMac will now conduct several weeks of crew familiarisation trials before the ship carries its first passengers in Jan 2025. The 'Glen Sannox' was originally due for delivery in 2018 but has faced major challenges in design and construction, sparking the longest-running political controversy of the devolution era. Costs have risen from an initial contract price of £97m to more than £400m, including £45m of government loans that were never fully recovered. Report with photos: https://www.inverclydenow.com/port-yard-hand-over-glen-sannox-at-last/

Ferry got approval six years late

The 'Glen Sannox' has officially received regulatory approval to carry passengers on Nov 19. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Lloyd’s Register have issued final certifications for the vessel, paving the way for its imminent handover to the Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. by the builder Ferguson Marine Shipyard, marking a turning point in a project that has been closely watched by the Scottish public and shipping industry alike. The ferry is the second largest vessel ever built for CalMac and is the first UK-built ferry capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Originally due for delivery in May 2018, the project has been plagued by design struggles and disputes over rising costs. The contract for the 'Glen Sannox' and its sister ship 'Glen Rosa' was awarded in 2015, shortly after Ferguson’s shipyard was rescued from administration. The construction quickly encountered difficulties, with blame being attributed to poorly developed specifications and alleged interference from CMAL, the government-owned company responsible for procuring ships for the CalMac fleet. The original £97 million contract for both ships has increased to over £400 million, with the 'Glen Sannox' arriving more than six years late. Although the formal handover is expected shortly, the operator CalMac will need approximately six more weeks for crew familiarization and operational trials before the vessel enters service. CalMac is currently grappling with maintaining its winter timetable due to the potential long-term unavailability of the 'Caledonian Isles', still under repair in Greenock, and the recent retirement of the 39-year-old ferry 'Hebridean Isles'.

Ferry may be completed this week

The 'Glen Xannox' is expected to be completed by the Ferguson Marine shipyard this week, though 6,5f years late, on Nov 18 at the earliest, and one month after the latest of a long series of handover deadlines in mid-October passed. After the ferry leaves the shipyard, it will still have to undergo 6,5 weeks of crew familiarisation trials by CalMac and 16 days of MoT-like annual maintenance before it can enter service. It may enter the service between Troon and Brodick in mid-January 2025 at the earliest. Actually the ship is docked at Inchgreen in Greenock because there is not enough space at the Port Glasgow yard where the sister vessel 'Glen Rosa' is berthed and is due to be completed next September. The 'Glen Sannox' will officially be handed over to the Scottish Government ferry-owning firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd., which ordered the two ships in 2015 for delivery of both in 2018.