Exclusive:Delayed CalMac ferry Glen Sannox to be out of service again soon after carrying first passengers

Crucial sea trials postponed for two weeks but Ferguson Marine insists delivery date unchanged

The massively delayed ferry Glen Sannox will be taken out of service almost as soon as it starts carrying passengers to undergo a mandatory overhaul.

The news came as it emerged that sea trials to push the vessel to its limits prior to delivery to CalMac have been delayed by two weeks, but the Ferguson Marine shipyard said its planned completion by the end of this month remained unchanged.

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Glen Sannox moored at Inchgreen in Greenock in AprilGlen Sannox moored at Inchgreen in Greenock in April
Glen Sannox moored at Inchgreen in Greenock in April | John Devlin/The Scotsman

Glen Sannox, which is six years late and four times over budget, is expected to start operating on the main route to Arran by December after some two months of separate CalMac sea and crew familiarisation trials.

However, the Scottish Government-owned operator has decided to also schedule the ferry’s MoT-style annual maintenance in December to best fit in with similar work on the the rest of its west coast fleet.

The two-week refit is required to permit the ferry to operate for a year, and delaying it into 2025 is seen as being more disruptive. The work includes inspection of the underwater section of the hull, which is required by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Glen Sannox, which is being completed in Greenock, will be CalMac’s second largest ferry and will serve its busiest route, to Brodick. It will operate from Troon because of delays to the upgrading of Ardrossan harbour to accommodate it.

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The ferry’s refit will be completed ahead of the annual overhaul of the main vessel on the route, 31-year-old Caledonian Isles, which is expected to be in dock for almost a month because of the scale of work which the ageing ferry requires.

31-year-old Caledonian Isles has been out of service since January31-year-old Caledonian Isles has been out of service since January
31-year-old Caledonian Isles has been out of service since January | John Devlin/The Scotsman

The ship is due to return to service around 12 September after an unprecedented £6.5 million of steelwork repairs which have kept it out of service since January.

That is expected to be two days after sea trials following the work, which has been extended from June, at a yard at Birkenhead on Merseyside.

A CalMac spokesperson told The Scotsman: “Glen Sannox is scheduled to enter annual maintenance on 3 December.

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“Whilst it may seem less than ideal to bring the vessel into service, then dock it shortly after, December represents the best time of year for her overhaul in the context of the schedule for the wider fleet.

“All of our major vessels enter annual overhaul throughout winter due to service demands across all routes in the summer.

“Glen Sannox will serve Arran, and the other major vessel for this route, Caledonian Isles, is scheduled to be in dock for most of January.

“Then, February and March are the most congested time of year for major vessel overhaul. Service demand begins to increase towards the end of March, when the summer timetable recommences.

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“We consulted with Isle of Arran Ferry Committee on the timing of the new vessel's overhaul and December was their preference."

So, despite the fact that this year the vessel may only have just entered service, December is the most sensible time of year for annual maintenance in the long term as it helps to maintain service levels and minimise disruption during the wider winter timetable period.”

Bill Calderwood, the ferry committee’s secretary, said: “We were offered two possible dates, but as this will be an annual schedule we selected the December option as the long-term best option.

“This year gives an opportunity for any early teething issues to be corrected before we expect Glen Sannox will support our Christmas and New Year demand along with Caledonian Isles.

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“We await confirmation of the vessel’s introduction to service, which is urgently needed.”

Meantime, Scottish Government-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), which owns CalMac’s ferries, told The Scotsman that its own sea trials to test Glen Sannox had been postponed from this week to September 16-20.

Chief executive Kevin Hobbs said last month they would be the “acid test” of the vessel’s capabilities and involve a 12-hour endurance trial which would run it “exceptionally hard”.

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He said: “If anything were to go wrong, that's when it will go wrong, but we're not anticipating that.”

Ferguson Marine said the date had been changed for logistical and operational reasons, and the ferry was still due to be completed on September 30.

A separate trial of the ferry’s novel dual diesel-liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel system is due to get underway next week.

Initial sea trials in February were described by the then Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman as “overwhelmingly positive”.

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A spokesperson for the Port Glasgow yard said:  "LNG sea trials begin on Wednesday September 11, with owners' trials planned for the following week. The planned delivery handover remains Monday September 30."

Glen Sannox, along with sister ship Glen Rosa, was due to have been finished in 2018, but had suffered a long series of delays, including due to the LNG system and the way the vessels were built by previous yard managements. They will cost a total of some £400 million compared to the initial £97 contract.

Glen Rosa is due to be finished in September next year and also operate on the main Arran route.

Glen Rosa being launched at the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow in AprilGlen Rosa being launched at the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow in April
Glen Rosa being launched at the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow in April | John Devlin/The Scotsman

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop told MSPs on Tuesday: “Whilst it is regrettable that there has been further delay to the delivery of [Glen Sannox], I am pleased to confirm that the arrangements to ensure a smooth handover and entry into service are well underway.

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“Reports from the sea trials and work to date have indicated that the vessel is performing well.

“We look forward to her entering service and serving the Arran community. Discussions are already underway with communities around the timetables when she initially enters service from Troon.”

On the Ardrossan harbour upgrade, which is seven years late and has yet to start, she said: “I understand all outstanding elements are being completed and I will receive the new business plan shortly.”

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