The delivery of CalMac ferries being built in Turkey has hit another snag, with labour shortages pushing back completion dates by at least three months. The first vessel, MV Isle of Islay, originally slated for completion in October 2024 for a March launch, is now expected to be delivered no earlier than the end of June 2025.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the government-owned entity responsible for ferry procurement, cited “serious issues with labor, particularly the availability of specialist commissioning sub-contractors” as the primary cause for the delay.
The shortage of commissioning engineers is reportedly a global issue affecting the shipbuilding industry, causing months-long delays in some cases.
Transport Scotland described the setback as “disappointing” but acknowledged that it was due to “global issues outwith the yard’s control.”
A spokesperson stated: “Shipyards across the world have been impacted by external supply chain and internal resourcing challenges. Cemre are working actively to outfit, test, trial, survey and complete the vessels as early as possible.”
The delay comes at a particularly challenging time for beleaguered CalMac, which is already grappling with a shortage of operational vessels and has encountered a series of “exceptional” issues with its fleet.
Chief Executive Duncan Mackison reported that approximately one-third of the larger vessels are currently unavailable or operating at reduced capacity.
Scottish Conservative shadow transport secretary Sue Webber was critical of the situation, saying: “This is yet another blow to Scotland’s betrayed island communities, who are sick to the back teeth of delays to upgrading their decrepit ferry fleet.”
The setback affects not only the MV Isle of Islay but also its three sister ships. The second ferry, Loch Indaal, also intended for the Islay route, is now not expected to be completed until the end of 2025 at the earliest. The remaining two vessels, Lochmor and Claymore, destined for the Little Minch routes, are projected to follow a delivery schedule of six-month intervals from the delivery of MV Isle of Islay.
Despite the delays, Transport Scotland remains optimistic about the quality of the vessels, stating: “The quality of the workmanship and construction of the vessel is fully meeting CMAL expectations and we look forward to the vessels joining the fleet and serving island communities for years to come.”
