‘Successful testing’ for new CalMac ferry being built in Turkey

Shipbuilders in Turkey are making “good progress” on a new ferry for CalMac, with the vessel completing its second set of sea trials.

The MV Isle of Islay is due to be delivered in the third quarter of this year, as the publicly owned operator looks to bolster its aging fleet.

The new ferry, which is planned to serve routes to Islay and Jura, is being built at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey.

And representatives from both CalMac and Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL) – which owns the ferries and other infrastructure needed for its services – were there to witness its test sailing.

The trial looked at the ferry’s battery energy storage system (BESS), as well as its power management system (PMS) and energy management system (EMS).

Afterwards, Jim Anderson, director of vessels at CMAL, said the “successful testing” was a “significant step forward in completing this new vessel for Islay and Jura”.

He added: “The team at Cemre have made good progress in the build programme for the vessel, and we continue to work closely with the shipyard as we move into the final stages of the build.”

The MV Isle of Islay had now been returned to the quayside at the yard, ahead of further outfitting work.

It comes as the Scottish Government opened a consultation on ferry services to the Northern Isles, with islanders and businesses in Orkney and Shetland urged to have their say on the next ferry contract for the area.

Connectivity minister Jim Fairlie said the consultation on the next Northern Isles Ferry Services contract (NIFS4) was an “essential part of developing the next generation of contract”.

He said the Scottish Government wanted the new contract “not only to deliver a service that meets current needs, but one that is fit for the future”.

He added that this, alongside with proposed vessel replacement programme set out in the government’s Islands Connectivity Plan, would help “ensure these ferry services are reliable and resilient for years to come”.

Mr Fairlie said: “We recognise the importance of these ferry routes and this consultation will allow our stakeholders to share their views to inform the future specification for these services.

“I would strongly encourage everyone with an interest to take part in the consultation and help us ensure that these lifeline connections continue to deliver for our island communities.”