Thanks ferry much – Clyde builders land £20m deal for greener vessels

TWO green, hybrid passenger ferries are to be built on the Clyde, promising vessels that will be cleaner, quieter and cheaper to operate.

The Scottish Government has confirmed Clyde-based Ferguson Shipbuilders as the preferred bidder to build a world first in environmentally friendly ferries in a deal worth more than £20 million.

The ferries will be the first commercial vessels fully built on the Clyde for over four years.

The deal will create about 100 jobs and secure another 75 existing posts in the Port Glasgow and Inverclyde area. In addition, Ferguson is expected to create about 20 new apprenticeships as a result of this contract.

The first of the vessels is expected to come into service on the Sconser-Raasay route on Skye by the middle of 2013, with the second following six months later.

Alex Neil, the cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment, said: “This award is a perfect illustration of how we are making good on our commitment to create the vital jobs needed to boost local economies and, crucially, to help stimulate growth across Scotland.

“The two new ferries will come into operation in 2013 and are the world’s first seagoing passenger and vehicle roll-on roll-off ferries to incorporate a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and battery power.

“The technology will be cleaner, quieter and cheaper to operate and maintain than ever before. It will help Scotland to meet our ambitious climate-change targets, and demonstrates the vast economic potential of developing green technology and moving to a low carbon economy. This project will provide a boost for commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde – it has been over four years since the last commercial ship was fully built and delivered.”

The ferries, which each accommodate 150 passengers and 23 cars or two heavy goods vehicles, will have a speed of nine knots. They will use a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and battery power which operators say will reduce noise and fuel consumption and cut carbon dioxide, sulphur oxide and nitrous oxide emissions and lead to lower maintenance requirements.

The vessels will be operated by CalMac Ferries and are designed for use on many of the short crossing routes around the Clyde and Hebrides.

Richard Deane, managing director of Ferguson Shipbuilders Ltd, added: “The Clyde has a proud shipbuilding heritage and it is wonderful to be part of such a groundbreaking project, which will see the world’s first hybrid ferries sailing in Scotland.

“The project will have a major impact on the local economy, including the creation of a number of new jobs throughout the course of the build and we look forward to signing the contracts and starting work in due course.”

Ferguson will be working alongside Glasgow-based ship design specialists SeaTec and electrical specialists Tec-Source to deliver the project.

The announcement follows confirmation of Scottish Government funding to CMAL for the Low Emission Hybrid Ferries Project in February and the recent tender process, which led to a number of Scottish and European shipyards submitting responses for the contract.

George Taylor, technical director for Caledonian MacBrayne, said: “Shipping contributes 2.6 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, which is a very small amount when compared to aircraft and road vehicles, but we are keen to reduce this where possible, so welcome this injection of new investment and technology in our small vessels fleet.”