MV Glen Sannox Receives Approval for Passenger Transport

The MV Glen Sannox, a new CalMac ferry under construction at the nationalized Ferguson shipyard, has received authorization to transport passengers. The shipyard confirmed that the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Lloyds Register have now provided the definitive regulatory certificates for the vessel. While a formal transfer is anticipated soon, CalMac requires several weeks of crew familiarization exercises before the ship can commence service on its designated Arran route. This dual-fuel vessel was initially scheduled for delivery in May 2018; however, its construction encountered design challenges and disagreements regarding escalating expenses. John Petticrew, the interim chief executive of Ferguson Marine, provided this recent information in correspondence to MSPs on Holyrood’s net zero, energy and transport committee. He stated: “We are delighted to share that MV Glen Sannox has now obtained full regulatory approval, including its passenger certification.” He added that, “Subject to the completion of the required legal and contractual processes, the vessel will be officially transferred to its new owners, CMAL.” Following this, “Control of the vessel will then be handed to CalMac who require six-and-a-half weeks for operational readiness and annual recertification activities.” The Glen Sannox holds the distinction of being the second largest vessel ever constructed for CalMac, and it is the first UK-built ferry designed to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Contracts for the Glen Sannox and its sister ship, Glen Rosa, were granted in 2015, which was one year after Ferguson’s, the final commercial shipyard on the Clyde, was saved from administration by businessman Jim McColl. However, the construction quickly encountered difficulties, with the shipyard’s new leadership attributing issues to an inadequately developed specification and intervention from CMAL, the government-owned entity responsible for acquiring vessels for the CalMac fleet. CMAL refuted these assertions, stating that “catastrophic” failures and errors by the contractor were the root cause of the difficulties. The subsequent impasse concerning demands for increased costs led to the company’s collapse and its subsequent nationalization; nevertheless, the project experienced further delays and cost escalations. The initial contract value for both vessels stood at £97m, but the cumulative expenses are projected to significantly exceed £400m, with the Glen Sannox being delivered over six years behind schedule. Construction of the second ferry, Glen Rosa, is progressing with greater efficiency, and its delivery is anticipated for next September. The Glen Sannox reportedly performed effectively during recent sea trials, though these assessments also identified several matters necessitating additional work before regulatory approval could be granted. Upon its transfer, this vessel will represent the first new large ship to join the CalMac fleet since 2015. The ferry operator is presently encountering difficulties in upholding its winter schedule, as one of its primary vessels, MV Caledonian Isles, may remain unavailable until March. Additionally, the 39-year-old MV Hebridean Isles, another substantial vessel, was decommissioned over the weekend due to expiring regulatory certificates and the impracticality of further extending its operational lifespan. Services to Arran are presently being sustained by the 41-year-old MV Isle of Arran, another vessel constructed by Ferguson and known as the “Auld Trooper,” alongside a chartered catamaran.