CalMac’s newest vessel, the Turkish-built MV Isle of Islay, is set to be withdrawn from service for repairs later this month, a mere 15 weeks after it commenced passenger operations. The roll-on/roll-off ferry, which entered service on 31 March, developed a significant hinge problem with its bow doors approximately six weeks later, forcing it to operate “single ended” since mid-May.
The upcoming two-week repair period will see the MV Isle of Islay enter Dales dry dock in Greenock on 15 July. During this time, the route will be maintained by the older MV Isle of Arran, a vessel built in 1983. CalMac anticipates that the smaller replacement will offer sufficient passenger capacity, advising customers to book in advance.
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Despite the mechanical issue, a spokesperson for CalMac indicated satisfaction with the new ferry, noting that roughly 150 warranty claims, including the bow door issue, are not considered unusually high for a “first in class” vessel.
Separately, Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), Scotland’s state-owned ferries body and the leasing entity for CalMac’s fleet, is grappling with potential further delays for three other vessels under construction at Turkey’s Cemre shipyard. These three identical “Islay-class” ferries form part of contracts valued at approximately £200 million.
The MV Isle of Islay was delivered 15 months later than its original contract date. While MV Loch Indaal, the second vessel in the order, has completed sea trials, CMAL could only confirm its expected arrival this year, nearly 18 months behind schedule. The two final ships, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore, are now anticipated to arrive in 2027, despite earlier suggestions of accelerated delivery. These vessels are intended to bolster ferry services for Islay, Skye, Harris, and North Uist.
