Delayed Docking at Ardrossan Harbour
Two new Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) ferries, delivered late and over budget, will be unable to dock at the publicly-owned Ardrossan Harbour until at least 2029.
The Scottish government has stated that the current facilities at Ardrossan Harbour are not equipped to accommodate the berthing of MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa.
The harbour, which was acquired into public ownership in the previous month, is intended to serve as the long-term mainland base for the ferry service connecting North Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran. In the interim, Troon has been utilized as a temporary mainland base for operations.
Official Confirmation and Project Timeline
On the final day of the Holyrood parliamentary term, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop confirmed in a letter to the net zero, energy and transport committee that work on upgrading Ardrossan Harbour would not be completed for another three years.
Glen Sannox commenced sailings in January 2023, nearly seven years later than its originally scheduled delivery date, but is currently out of service due to a technical fault.
The Glen Rosa ferry is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2024. By that time, the total cost of constructing the vessel at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard is projected to exceed £197 million.
Details from Transport Secretary's Letter
In her correspondence, Hyslop, who is standing down as a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP), indicated that work on the harbour is planned to begin in 2027 and is expected to take approximately two years to complete,
"depending on agreed scope and contract phasing."
She further stated,
"An outline business case is expected to be presented later in 2026 when approval is expected to be sought to proceed to procurement on a preferred scheme."
Regarding project costs, Hyslop noted,
"Project costs for the revised scope can only be confirmed when the design work is progressed and a contract has been agreed."
Harbour Acquisition and Financial Details
The letter also disclosed that the Scottish government purchased Ardrossan Harbour for £16 million, with £6 million allocated for the facilities and £10 million for control of the harbour authority.
This acquisition resulted in Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd assuming control of the harbour area from Peel Ports Group on behalf of the Scottish government.
Background on Redevelopment Plans
Initial plans to redevelop Ardrossan Harbour were announced in 2018, involving a partnership between Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council, and the Scottish government.
However, projected costs for the redevelopment escalated significantly, and it became impossible to reach an agreement on managing the associated risks and financial commitments.
