Go faster design change risks slowing down new ferry delivery

Go faster modification risks holding up new ferry delivery

13 January 2022

After five years of embracing an important design change to the new Skye triangle ferry, a final decision on the measure has yet to be made it appears.

The implications of installing a steel ducktail sponson or lip at the stern risks delaying delivery of the replacement ferry from Ferguson Marine reveals Tim Hair, the troubleshooter brought in by the Scottish Government to turn around the struggling shipyard.

A series of hold-ups means the vessel - known as hull 802 while she remains high and dry on the blocks at the Port Glasgow facility - will not take over from MV Hebrides until summer 2023, five years later than the original timescale.

Sister ship, MV Glen Sannox, will be a good four years late when she carries her first passenger on the Arran service, hopefully before the end of this year.

A significant difference between the pair will be an protruding structure incorporated across the stern waterline on the Western Isles vessel.

Known as a ducktail, the hope is the 2.4 metre long steel structure below her vehicle ramp will squeeze an extra slice of speed from the ferry’s propulsion while also helping to save on fuel costs.

The ship’s length would end up longer than originally envisaged as a result of the feature.

Such additional weight at the stern also risks weakening the ship along her middle section so compensatory structural strengthening is likely to be required.

Incorporating a ducktail seems to have been approved - at least in principle - around 2017 after being suggested by the yard when under Jim McColl’s ownership following proposed modifications to the vessels’ bow and stern.

Tim Hair stinted on details when he informed the Scottish Parliament’s transport committee of the latest potential hold-up for the Western Isles ferry.

In his last progress report before leaving his shipyard role, Mr Hair revealed: “At their request, we have for some time been in discussion with Scottish Government, Transport Scotland and CMAL regarding the ducktail.

“These discussions have the potential to impact the schedule for delivery of the vessel and if this occurs we will update the committee accordingly.”

MV Glen Sannox also faces snags in replacing her engine room pipework which was stripped out after being deemed unsuitable. Installing new piping is underway but is yet to achieve “planned levels.”

More personnel will be assigned to catch-up on this effort which is an “important area and represents a critical risk” to the delivery of 801, highlighted Mr Hair.

Subcontractors employing overseas personnel have been hired to cover the dire shortage of skilled steel workers and pipe fitters available locally or from the UK.

Covid permitting, they were due to return this month to continue work on the vessels.

However, shortages in core occupations continue to hit Ferguson’s with increased staff absences for self-isolation and Covid testing following the spread of Omicron.

Mr Hair warned: “It seems likely that we will experience significant disruption in January and that in turn might result in lost productivity.

“The resulting impact is impossible to quantify or predict at this juncture.”

Looking ahead at the delivery stage, the fear is equipment installed on the ferries may not work in action if degraded or having been idle for so long.

Some have been replaced but there remains an “unquantifiable risk” that equipment problems may emerge during commissioning.

Tim Hair leaves Ferguson Marine in a fortnight. The shipyard has appointed David Tydeman as its permanent chief executive. Mr Tydeman takes over on 1 February.

The ducktail for the Skye triangle ferry is expected to be similar to the structure on MV Loch Seaforth