CalMac has warned that the first voyage of the MV Glen Sannox is 'liable to disruption or cancellation' due to a high winds forecast. The ferry, which was meant to be delivered almost seven years ago, is scheduled to leave Troon harbour tomorrow morning.
CalMac has warned that the first voyage of the MV Glen Sannox is 'liable to disruption or cancellation' due to a high winds forecast. The MV Glen Sannox, which was meant to be delivered almost seven years ago, is scheduled to leave Troon harbour in South Ayrshire, bound for the Isle Arran, on its first sailing tomorrow at 6.30am. However, a yellow alert issued by Caledonian MacBrayne today said it may be subject to delay or cancellation due to high winds.
On social media, CalMac wrote: 'Due to forecast high winds, the following sailings operated by MV Glen Sannox are liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice: Depart Troon – 06:30, depart Brodick – 08:40.' The new large vessel is the first to join the UK's largest ferry fleet in nearly a decade and is one of two major ferries being constructed at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow. The ships are due to cost £360million - compared to an original estimate of £90million. This is not the first issue that CalMac has had to deal with in the lead-up to the ship's launch. Other issues included oil contamination in a hydraulic system which forced the closure of a mezzanine deck. The ferry operator insists the closure will not affect capacity because of low demand over the winter period. Duncan Mackison, chief executive of CalMac, said: “Great effort has gone into getting MV Glen Sannox ready for service for Monday. It is testament to the commitment of people at CalMac to Arran that we’ve been able to reduce our original schedule for familiarisation and meet an ambitious target for entry to service. “Launching a new major vessel is akin to buying a new-build house. You can move into a new home whilst some small snags are fixed, and we can operate MV Glen Sannox whilst we address a small number of minor issues that have no bearing on the safe operation of the vessel, or the experience passengers have on board. “We are excited to welcome people on board and look forward to seeing a vessel which will bring great benefit to Arran enter service for the local community.” The ferry and the 3,000-tonne sister ship Glen Rosa were first ordered in 2015 and have endured a saga of costly delays and technical problems - originally due for delivery in 2018. The Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow where they have been built was nationalised during the process and the cost of building both vessels has spiralled. Glen Sannox will serve Arran and operate from Troon, South Ayrshire, with the Caledonian Isles ferry forming the other part of a two-vessel service to the island from Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, from March 28. MSPs were told earlier this month that the MV Glen Sannox ferry has already been pencilled in for repairs before it carries its first passengers. Officials from Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the ferry procurement agency, confirmed that the anchor system on Glen Sannox would need to be fixed in the coming months. However, replacement anchor equipment was due to arrive in early February for repairs to be carried out.
FERRY DELAYS WEATHER CALMAC ISLEARRAN
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