Launch date confirmed for second CalMac ferry being built in Turkey
3 May 2024
The second of four Turkish-built vessels for CalMac will be launched early next month.
MV Loch Indaal will hit the water on 8 June at Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova,
Turkey.
The shipyard won two separate orders totalling around £190 million to construct the
vessels which are due to be delivered between late 2024 and 2026.
The increasingly busy Islay route will receive the first pair which will provide
more opportunity for CalMac to deploy vessels to the Western Isles and west coast
to cover breakdowns or drydock periods.
Harris and North Uist are in line to receive the next pair of ships.
All four vessels are in addition to the pair of long delayed ferries being built
at the Ferguson Marine yard on the Clyde.
The £46 million MV Loch Indaal is due to be handed over to Caledonian Maritime Assets
Limited (CMAL) in February.
Following operational trials, CMAL will pass the ship over to CalMac for berthing
trials and a crew familiarisation period.
The ship is scheduled to commence commercial sailings on the ever-busy Islay and
Jura route next Spring.
Over the coming six weeks, works on the vessel will continue on the shipyard slipway.
This includes applying underwater hull paint coatings, installation of pipework,
equipment, and machinery, as well as electrical works.
Jim Anderson, Director of Vessels at CMAL said: "With the launch of Isle of Islay
in March, and Glen Rosa in April, Loch Indaal will be the third vessel to launch
within three months. Work is progressing well at Cemre, and we are on schedule and
on budget with all four vessels, which will be welcome news for islanders.”
Transport secretary, Fiona Hyslop, said: “I’m delighted that the launch of the MV
Loch Indaal has been confirmed for early June. This is another important milestone
in the Scottish Government’s commitment to delivering six new major vessels into
service by 2026.
“I have no doubt the communities and businesses on Islay and Jura are looking forward
to a more resilient and modern ferry service, with further vessels set to bring similar
improvements to other parts of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network.”
An official naming ceremony will take place on Islay towards the middle of next year,
where stakeholders and community representatives and will be invited onboard to tour
the vessel to celebrate its arrival before it officially joins the fleet.
The new ferry, along with its sister vessel MV Isle of Islay, will have sufficient
passenger accommodation to meet anticipated demand, as well as a clear focus on freight.
Both vessels will have capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial
vehicles.
This will provide a combined 40% increase in vehicle and freight capacity on the
Islay routes and will improve the overall resilience of the wider fleet.
The first of four sister ships for CalMac is to be launched within weeks.
MV Isle of Islay will enter the water on 16 March at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard
in Yalova, Turkey.
The shipyard won two separate orders totalling around £190 million to construct the
vessels which are due to be delivered between late 2024 and 2026.
The increasingly busy Islay route will receive the first pair which will provide
more opportunity for CalMac to deploy vessels to the Western Isles and west coast
to cover breakdowns or drydock periods.
Harris and North Uist are in line to receive the next pair of ships.
All four vessels are in addition to the pair of long delayed ferries being built
at the Ferguson Marine yard on the Clyde .