THE first of four new CalMac ferries constructed by a shipyard in Turkey is expected to be delivered past its scheduled date.
The MV Isle of Islay, which was anticipated to be received in the middle of October, has been postponed to the latter part of the year.
The Cemre Shipyard in Turkey has cited delays in the equipment and materials’ delivery as a result of worldwide supply chain issues.
This development arrives during a challenging period for CalMac, as it is dealing with two out of its ten major vessels being out of commission and another one set to retire in November.
MV Isle of Islay is to be the first of the new Islay class vessels, ith MV Loch Indaal set to be launched next year, alongside two additional vessels.
CalMac is under increasing pressure to keep its fleet operational, as numerous vessels have passed their expected service span. The primary ferry for the Arran route, Caledonian Isles, has been out of service since February, with repairs scheduled in Merseyside expected to take until late August.
Another ship, Hebridean Isles, is slated for scrapping in November due to the high cost of its maintenance, while Lord of the Isles has been taken out of commission following an engine fire.
Another ferry, Glen Sannox, which has faced numerous delays, will not be operational until late September and will need several weeks for crew training before it can begin service.
