This is a test of GDPR / Cookie Acceptance [about our cookies]
Really irritating test - cookie expires in 24 hour!
Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
As at 17th March 2025 23:32 GMT
 
Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Clan Line at 16:27, 17th March 2025
 



What a surprise that was 

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 13:46, 17th March 2025
 
From the BBC:

Ferguson shipyard misses out on new CalMac ferry order



The nationalised Ferguson shipyard has missed out on a crucial order for seven small all-electric ferries for west coast operator Caledonian MacBrayne.

Ferries procurement agency CMAL has instead named a Polish firm, Remontowa, as preferred bidder for the small vessels replacement programme (SVRP).

Ferguson's, the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, had vowed to bid "aggressively" for the contract and had made it onto a shortlist of six bidders.

A total of £175m has been allocated to build the new "loch class" vessels and complete harbour and shore power upgrades. The first ferries are due to join the CalMac fleet in 2027.

The contract was a key part of Ferguson Marine's five-year business plan following delays and cost overruns in the construction of two much larger ferries for CalMac.

The 50m (164ft) all-electric ferries are similar to ones it has delivered successfully in the past and could have given it a pipeline of repeatable work lasting several years.

The Port Glasgow shipyard is still pursuing alternative business opportunities, including defence sub-contracting work from BAE Systems and private sector work.

Scottish government-owned CMAL said the award to the Polish firm represented "best value" for the public purse. But Scottish Labour said the government had failed to stand up for key Scottish industries, while the Scottish Conservatives claimed SNP mismanagement could prove to be the "death knell" for Ferguson's.

The Ferguson bid for the SVRP is understood to have ranked well for quality but missed out due to the difficulties in matching overseas yards on cost.

Chief financial officer David Dishon said: "We are very proud of our bid and although we priced it competitively, we were up against extremely tough competition from yards outside the UK which benefit from significantly reduced operating costs and advanced capital investment programmes. The weighting for price will therefore place all UK yards at a disadvantage. However, we were pleased to see Ferguson Marine's bid rated so highly on quality."

Remontowa, based in Gdansk, has previously built the CalMac ferries MV Argyle, MV Bute and MV Finlaggan, and was runner up to Ferguson's when the contracts for MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa were awarded in 2015.


A concept design drawing of the new all-electric ferries.

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said the bids had been assessed against a range of technical and financial criteria, weighted 65% on quality and 35% on cost.  He said: "It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels which meet the needs of islanders, but that also deliver the best value for the public purse. We are confident in Remontowa's ability, and have worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of the MV Finlaggan in 2011."

There now follows a 10-day "standstill period" after which the contract will be signed.

The new ferries will operate on the Colintraive-Rhubodach (Bute); Lochaline-Fishnish (Mull); Tarbert (Loch Fyne)-Portavadie; Iona-Fionnphort (Mull); Sconser-Raasay; Tobermory-Kilchoan (Mull); and Tayinloan-Gigha routes.

Phase two of the programme will see the purchase of three more vessels which are capable of handling more challenging sea states, but that contract will go to tender separately.

(Article continues)



Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by grahame at 05:52, 16th March 2025
 

Additional sailings have also been added between Lochranza in Arran and Claonaig in the Kintyre peninsula.  The operator said all passengers should have a booking prior to arriving in Troon, adding that those who had not booked could not be guaranteed travel


Claonaig is a VERY long way round and I don't think public transport goes anywhere near it  ... I suppose for passengers with their own transport headed for northern Dumbartonshire it might have been a viable alternative.




Even when Glen Sannox is running (and it seems it's back after being patched up later today), it's running to and from a jetty in Troon which is not rail connected and it involves a transfer bus, rather than the service from Arran running to Ardrossan Harbour on the mainland which [is/was] adjacent to - err - Ardrossan Harbour station

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 20:54, 15th March 2025
 
From the BBC:

Glen Sannox ferry sailings to resume after crack repair

The new Glen Sannox ferry is expected to resume sailings on Sunday after repairs have been completed on a crack in the ship's hull.

The brand new vessel only began operating in January after being delivered almost seven years late and costing more than four times the original contract price.

CalMac confirmed the news after divers carried out a detailed assessment of the damage on Saturday.  The ferry had been operating for just over two months between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick in the Isle of Arran.

A CalMac spokesman said: "The dive inspection has identified a hairline crack on a weld seam on MV Glen Sannox's hull earlier today and we can confirm repairs are now underway at Brodick and expected to complete later today.  We anticipate MV Glen Sannox to resume timetabled service on Sunday 16 March and will confirm this evening."

It added the MV Alfred would operate an extra return sailing on Saturday to provide cover and said the "vast majority" of booked customers had been able to travel.

(Article continues)



Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:02, 15th March 2025
 
From the BBC:

Divers assess crack in hull of new Glen Sannox ferry



Divers are inspecting the new Glen Sannox following the discovery of a crack in the ship's hull.

The brand new vessel only began operating in January after being delivered almost seven years late and costing more than four times the original contract price.

All of the Glen Sannox's Saturday sailings have been cancelled while the MV Alfred will operate an additional service.

CalMac said it would provide an update on Sunday's sailings once a dive team had carried out a full assessment.

The ship had been operating for just over two months between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick in the Isle of Arran.

The vessel was removed from service on Friday after a crack was found on a "weld seam close to the waterline".

The ferry operator said reports that the boat had hit the harbour or that water was leaking into the car deck were "categorically untrue".  However, CalMac advised that a "very small amount of water" had entered part of the rear of the ship near the steering gear.

Additional sailings have also been added between Lochranza in Arran and Claonaig in the Kintyre peninsula.  The operator said all passengers should have a booking prior to arriving in Troon, adding that those who had not booked could not be guaranteed travel.

Divers from Shearwater Marine Services arrived at the port on Saturday morning.

A decision about Sunday's sailings will be taken later, the operator said in a statement on its website.  It added: "We apologise for the disruption, and our port teams and customer engagement centre will be working hard to contact affected customers."

The Glen Sannox has space for 127 cars and 852 passengers.

(Article continues)



Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by TonyK at 17:14, 13th January 2025
 
The old age of the CalMac fleet can be compared with the old age of the GWR local / regional train fleet.



Put like that, they're quite new.

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by grahame at 11:57, 13th January 2025
 
The old age of the CalMac fleet can be compared with the old age of the GWR local / regional train fleet.


Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 21:29, 12th January 2025
 
From the BBC:

Scotland's ferries saga ship to finally set sail



The ship at the centre of Scotland's long-running ferries saga is scheduled to make its first passenger voyage before dawn on Monday.

MV Glen Sannox is due to leave Troon harbour in South Ayrshire, bound for the Isle of Arran, on its first sailing at 06:30.

But a yellow alert, external, issued by Caledonian MacBrayne on Sunday, said it may be subject to delay or cancellation due to high winds.

The ship - which was meant to be delivered almost seven years ago - completed a return test sailing on Sunday and is the first new large vessel to join the UK's largest ferry fleet in nearly a decade.

With a capacity for 127 cars and 852 passengers, Glen Sannox will help relieve pressures on the state-owned operator which has struggled in recent years to maintain services with ageing and increasingly unreliable vessels.

(Article continues)



Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by CyclingSid at 17:09, 30th December 2024
 
Oops! 'Green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwy87e72yg3o
Hope this will not be the fate of the rumoured electric Isle of Wight ferry
https://onthewight.com/red-funnel-to-add-zero-emission-electric-ferry-for-eco-friendly-isle-of-wight-travel-by-2025/
In the light of the CalMac experience I wonder how far late 2025 will stretch.

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by grahame at 10:43, 21st November 2024
 
From the BBC:

Islanders bid a fond farewell to MV Hebridean Isles




Thanks for posting that, Chris. I had ... wondered ... whether I should but thought I was probably the only one interested.  RONG! .. 

I wonder that they have enough ships left in the fleet - sort of TOC on water limitations, frugality and late delivery of complex new vehicles.   New Glen Sannox ... when?

It appears to have been delivered today for entry into service in January - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cew1wxx0d0jo

The long-delayed ship at the centre of Scotland's ferries saga has been handed over by the Ferguson shipyard, exactly seven years after it was launched.

MV Glen Sannox, destined for CalMac's Arran route, is the first new large vessel for the west coast ferry fleet in nearly a decade.

The ferry operator will now conduct several weeks of crew familiarisation trials before the ship carries its first passengers in January.

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by grahame at 15:35, 18th November 2024
 
From the BBC:

Islanders bid a fond farewell to MV Hebridean Isles




Thanks for posting that, Chris. I had ... wondered ... whether I should but thought I was probably the only one interested.  RONG! .. 

I wonder that they have enough ships left in the fleet - sort of TOC on water limitations, frugality and late delivery of complex new vehicles.   New Glen Sannox ... when?

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 15:26, 18th November 2024
 
From the BBC:

Islanders bid a fond farewell to MV Hebridean Isles



One of Scotland's oldest lifeline ferries has been retired after nearly 40 years of service.

With two blasts of its horn, MV Hebridean Isles bade farewell as it left the quay at Stornoway for a final time on Sunday, bound for Glasgow before it goes to the breakers.

For islanders, whose lives are so interwoven with the sea, the ships of Britain's biggest ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne are more than just large lumps of steel and aluminium.

"Heb Isles" leaves behind a ship-shaped hole in the hearts of many former passengers and seafarers who have come to regard it as a trusty old friend.

The ship was given the name of the islands it was destined to serve on a sunny day in July 1985 at the long-gone Cochrane shipyard at Selby, North Yorkshire.

It was a first on two counts - the "lady sponsor" the Duchess of Kent was the first member of the Royal Family to name a CalMac vessel.  And it was the ferry operator's first vessel built outside of Scotland.  Two pipers were sent down to play the Skye Boat Song at the launch ceremony.

Margaret Thatcher was in No 10, Sister Sledge was Number One in the charts - and health and safety rules were somewhat more relaxed than today.  Shipyard workers hammered away the last supporting "shores" and wedges, then ducked and dashed for cover as the huge vessel slid above their heads in a spectacular sideways launch into the River Ouse.

The ship had cost £5.5m - and after a few months of fitting out, it made its maiden voyage off Scotland's west coast in December.  For 15 years it was deployed on the "Uig Triangle" - between Skye, North Uist and Harris - before moving to the Islay crossing, but it has served most of Scotland's sea routes in its time.

Aside from the scheduled sailings, the crew would voluntarily give up their time to put on special "booze cruises" to raise money for island charities.  The first, in 1992, saw a country and western band perform on the car deck, as thousands of pounds were raised to help purchase a breast cancer scanner for the Western Isles.


(News article continues, with more images)


Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by Clan Line at 21:17, 5th March 2023
 
Another of Nicola's legacies............

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60860642

Above link (24/03/22):
"The latest estimate is that the ferries will be five years late, and will cost up to £250m - more than two and a half times the original budget of £97m".

Latest: https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/homenews/23363699.fears-new-ferries-may-never-sail-ferguson-marine-budget-stalls/

"a further £87m was needed to deliver the ferries with overall costs at that point snowballing from the original £96m to £340m"

Re: Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by TaplowGreen at 17:12, 5th March 2023
 
Another of Nicola's legacies............


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-60860642

Caledonian MacBrayne ferries in Scotland - split topic, merged posts
Posted by grahame at 17:06, 5th March 2023
 
From The BBC

Ferry operator CalMac has warned the next two years will be "challenging" for residents of Scotland's islands due to the age of its fleet.

Chief executive Robbie Drummond also apologised to residents of Arran for recent disruption to services.

Mr Drummond said a shortage of spare vessels was also driving disruption.

A third of CalMac's ferries are more than 30 years old, and almost half the largest ships are beyond their expected service life.

Issues with three ferries have resulted in disruption across the company's west coast network.

CalMac is another government controlled transport operator, and they are having trouble too trying to run the service that they are supposed to with too few assets, and those they have getting more unreliable as they get worn out.

Is this habit of insisting on too-few, too-old assets due to poor planning, incompetence, or a cynical calculation which allows significant poor reliability  to save money.

 
The Coffee Shop forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western). The views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit https://www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site at admin@railcustomer.info if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules. Our full legal statment is at https://www.greatwesternrailway.info/legal.html

Although we are planning ahead, we don't know what the future will bring here in the Coffee Shop. We have domains "firstgreatwestern.info" for w-a-y back and also "greatwesternrailway.info"; we can also answer to "greatbritishrailways.info" too. For the future, information about Great Brisish Railways, by customers and for customers.
 
Current Running
GWR trains from JourneyCheck
 
 
Code Updated 11th January 2025