MV Isle of Islay Faces Early Repairs
MV Isle of Islay, CalMac's newest ferry built in Turkey, arrived in Scotland in February following a four-week journey. Despite entering service on 31 March, the vessel is scheduled for dry dock repairs later this month, just 15 weeks after its inaugural passenger service.
Six weeks after commencing operations, a hinge issue with the bow doors was identified, necessitating the ferry to operate "single ended" since then. This problem is reportedly the only major defect among approximately 150 minor issues CalMac intends to address under warranty.
Concerns Over Other Ship Deliveries
Separately, Scotland's state-owned ferry authority is assessing potential delays for three other CalMac vessels under construction at the Cemre shipyard amid economic difficulties faced by the company.
The second ferry in the series, MV Loch Indaal, was originally due nearly 18 months ago but remains expected to be delivered within the current year, according to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). A spokesperson stated:
"CMAL is working at pace with Cemre Shipyard, Transport Scotland and CalMac to confirm a full project timeline."
Operational Details and Service Impact
While CalMac operates the west coast ferry network, it leases vessels from CMAL, which is also fully owned by the Scottish government. The arrival of MV Isle of Islay was described by CalMac’s chief executive Duncan Mackison as marking a "new chapter." After crew familiarisation trials, the ferry began service on the Kennacraig to Islay route.
On 14 May, the bow door hinge pins developed a fault, and since then, vehicles have embarked and disembarked only via the stern. CalMac has maintained scheduled sailings despite this operational change.
The ferry is scheduled to enter Dales dry dock in Greenock on 15 July for a two-week repair period. During this time, its route will be served by MV Isle of Arran, the fleet’s oldest large vessel, built in 1983 by Ferguson shipbuilders. CalMac anticipates the smaller vessel will provide sufficient passenger capacity but advises customers to book in advance.
A spokesperson commented on the ferry’s performance and warranty claims:
"Despite the problems, the firm is satisfied with the new ferry, and 150 warranty claims is not an unusually-high number for a 'first in class' vessel."
Economic Challenges at Cemre Shipyard
The Cemre shipyard in Yalova, Turkey, is constructing three additional identical "Islay-class" ferries for CMAL under contracts valued at approximately £200 million in total. On Friday, CMAL disclosed it had made full payments for these vessels despite their incomplete status, an uncommon practice.
Typically, final payments are made only after vessel approval and handover, providing leverage over quality and delivery. The fourth ferry, MV Claymore, was launched from the slipway in May, triggering a milestone payment, but requires several months of fitting out before completion.
CMAL explained that due to "economic challenges" faced by Cemre, it was prudent to pay upfront to secure ownership early. Officials are concerned that financial difficulties might lead to the ships being impounded or sold to other customers.
By making these final payments, totaling £23 million beyond previous advances, the contracts are now considered concluded. Consequently, builder's refund guarantees—insurance policies protecting customers if a shipbuilder fails—are no longer valid.
In a worst-case scenario, CMAL could consider towing the vessels to another shipyard or negotiating with a new owner to complete construction. The primary objective is to prevent such outcomes by using £23 million of CMAL funds to support Cemre’s cash flow, enabling the privately-owned firm to manage its financial challenges.
CMAL stated the decision was "precautionary" and received unanimous approval from its board, with support from the newly appointed Economy, Tourism and Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn.
Industry and Regional Context
All four Islay-class ferries were photographed at the Cemre shipyard in January.
Turkish shipbuilders have been adversely affected by inflation and currency exchange rate fluctuations, diminishing their competitiveness. Additionally, orders from Norway, a significant export market, have declined as more Norwegian vessels are constructed domestically.
Other factors impacting Cemre include the 2023 Turkish earthquake, the war in Ukraine, and supply chain disruptions in the Gulf region.
MV Isle of Islay was delivered 15 months later than the original contract date. In March, CMAL reported that work on the remaining three ferries was progressing well, with suggestions that delivery of the third ship, MV Lochmor, could be accelerated to later this year.
However, CMAL’s latest update indicates that MV Lochmor and the final vessel, MV Claymore, are now expected to arrive sometime in 2027. MV Loch Indaal is anticipated to join MV Isle of Islay on the Islay route, while Lochmor and Claymore will serve Skye, Harris, and North Uist.
First new CalMac ferry handed over by Turkish shipyard
