Delivery of Turkish Ferry Postponed to Late 2024

The delivery of the MV Isle of Islay, the first of four new ferries being constructed for CalMac by a Turkish shipyard, has been postponed from mid-October to late December. The Cemre shipyard cited global supply chain challenges, particularly delays in equipment and materials, as the primary reason for the setback. This news comes at a particularly challenging time for CalMac, which currently has two of its ten major vessels out of service and a third set to be retired in November. In addition to the Isle of Islay's delay, the Glen Sannox ferry, being built at Ferguson shipyard, is also behind schedule. Originally expected to be delivered earlier, it will now not be ready until late September and will require additional weeks for crew training before it can enter service. The shipyard has faced significant hurdles, including the impact of the war in Ukraine on steel supplies and the recent earthquakes in southeastern Turkey, which have affected manpower availability. Despite these challenges, the quality of workmanship on the Isle of Islay is reportedly meeting all required standards, with ongoing high levels of supervision and engineering coordination. The new Islay class vessels, including the upcoming MV Loch Indaal, are designed to be slightly smaller than those being built at Ferguson’s, featuring conventional engines supplemented by battery power. CalMac's operational difficulties are compounded by the prolonged absence of its main Arran ferry, the Caledonian Isles, which has been out of service since February, and the impending scrapping of the Hebridean Isles due to maintenance costs. Another vessel, the Lord of the Isles, is currently in dry dock following an engine fire, further straining the ferry operator's capacity.