Glen Sannox completes Western Isles trials
5 January 2025
MV Glen Sannox demonstrated her capabilities during sea trials in the Western Isles on Saturday.
Although allocated to the busy Arran route, the new CalMac ferry - second largest
in the fleet - is on the relief list to potentially cover disruption elsewhere in
the west coast network.
The 102-metre-long vessel steamed at top speed to the islands on Friday, overnighting
in Stornoway.
On Saturday she embarked on a series of berthing trials at Stornoway, Lochmaddy and Tarbert, repositioning in the evening to Ullapool ready to test that pier this morning.
Plans to call in at Uig harbour in Skye were dropped due to port authority restrictions.
Glen Sannox is designed with more powerful and efficient engines and propulsion system providing significantly greater manoeuvrability than many of CalMac other major ships, which leads to improved berthing at ports.
While berthing at each port, the Sannox deployed her bigger bow thrusters plus stern thruster to glide alongside the pier.
She went in bow first to test her forward car ramp with the linkspan, before kicking
astern clear off the the pier for a 180º on-the-spot turn and using her thrusters
to come back in to check her stern ramp.
Bollard arrangements on the pier were also assessed to ensure safe berthing.
The vessel heads south today (Sunday) for final preparations at Inchgreen Quay in
Greenock before commencing her Arran - Troon service on 13 January.
No serious faults emerged during recent shakedown sailings undertaken to identify snagging issues with the vessel. Her start date remains unchanged with relatively minor issues including a problem with the ship’s sewage system are due to be rectified this week.
However, she is expected to be removed from service for a few days possibly next month to fix an anchor problem.
Ferguson Marine’s interim chief executive officer, John Petticrew, recently told Holyrood’s transport committee one of the ship’s anchors was “slipping” and after being dropped was difficult “to get it back up again.”
New windlass (anchor winch) components arriving in February should provide a “permanent solution” but it will take a “matter of days” to install.
Glen Sannox and her sister vessel, MV Glen Rosa were originally deemed suitable for the Skye triangle route though piers and bollard layouts have been upgraded since.
MV Glen Sannox berthing astern in Harris
The Sannox’s powerful thrusters assist in close quarter manoeuvres
