Achi news desk-
It has been confirmed that the target for the transfer of Glen Sannox to be used by ferry operator CalMac will not be until 31 July – after more months of delay.
Once transferred, there will be a two month period during which CalMac will carry out crew and network familiarization tests.
It comes as John Petticrew, the new interim chief executive of nationalized shipyard Ferguson Marine, admits that installing and commissioning the ‘green fuel’ liquefied natural gas (LNG) remains “particularly challenging”.
He said: “The underestimation of the complexity, the degree of difficulty of the installation, the lack of available specialist knowledge and competent resources in the UK in relation to marine LNG systems, has disappointingly contributed to a further slippage in the progress we have made . able to do in the last few weeks, and as a result our previously proposed schedule.”
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He said that following his appointment, the team has now determined a “more focused approach” towards the completion of the Glen Sannox Ousted chief executive David Tydeman was sacked last month after two turbulent years at the helm of the nationalized shipyard as he warned of again. more delivery delays.
It means that Glen Sannox will not serve Arran for the peak summer season. It may be available by the end of CalMac’s current summer schedule on October 20, but users aren’t holding their breath after a series of delays.
Glen Sannox and its yet-to-be-completed sister ferry Glen Rosa at Ferguson’s were due to come online in the first half of 2018, with both now due to serve Arran, but will be over six years late , and the costs are expected to be four times the original £97m contract.
Ms McAllan said: “Confirmation of further delays to Glen Sannox is unacceptable and disappointing, particularly for our island communities and users across the ferry network.
“However, I am pleased that the interim chief executive is of the opinion that this is the final position, without expecting any further delays and confirmation that the cost forecasts remain the same. I will continue to stress to him and the Ferguson Marine board how important it is to ensure that both ferries enter service as soon as possible.”
One consumer group official said: “Another day, another farce. It feels like it’s never ending.
“We keep getting promises and promises that it will arrive and every time they are broken.
“The service is failing badly, and the hope was always that we would have Glen Sannox at least for a large part of the summer. But now that is not the case and sometimes it makes you wonder if it will ever see service.”
Nationalized Ferguson Marine, which is building two wildly delayed and overbudget ferries for operator Calmac, warned at the end of December that there could be a further two-month delay as it faces “supplier issues” delaying the commissioning of the ships. ‘ LNG propulsion systems.
Further delays were set to push the completion of Glen Sannox back beyond the scheduled March date, and would be expected to affect the arrival of sister ship Glen Rosa in May 2025. Glen Rosa is now expected will be delivered in September, 2025, which means it will not see service until November of the same year at the earliest.
Prior to announcing the December supplier, Ferguson Marine was working to a planned March 31 acceptance date for Glen Sannox – which was two days after the start of the 2024 summer schedule.
That would have meant that the first boats would be ready for use on Arran at the end of May, as after handover CalMac needs two months to make preparations for taking on passengers, including familiarization training and safety drills.
Mr Petticrew said: “We appreciate and fully understand that there will be disappointment everywhere, and particularly in Arran, about this further delay.”
The Scottish Government has previously said that all systems – including the LNG drive – will need to be completed before state-owned ferry and port agency Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd can receive the supply. .
Plans for the introduction of the ‘eco-friendly’ ships had already been thrown into new chaos as it emerged that two key Scottish ports will not be able to provide the ‘green’ fuel.
In what has been described as a “new ferry shambles”, the Scottish Government has confirmed that there is no budget to provide the necessary port facilities for LNG at Ardrossan or Troon in 2024/25.
CalMac ferry company, which is owned by the Scottish Government, has already been planning to use Troon rather than Ardrossan for the two ferries that will serve Arran. That’s when it was hoped that the first of the ships would be ready for passengers in the Spring last year.
The dual fuel ferries which were meant to be identical, were hailed by then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as the ‘sustainable’ ferries which would “contribute to Scotland’s flagship climate change goals”.
They were hailed as a step towards a greener future for state-owned CalMac’s ferry fleet in Scotland as they were the first vessels to be built in the UK that could run off liquefied natural gas, or LNG. as well as conventional diesel.
Glen Rosa was due to be delivered to CalMac in August 2018 and Glen Sannox was launched by Nicola Sturgeon almost seven years ago.
The arrival dates have been in constant flux as their construction has been plagued by design challenges, cost overruns and delays.
Scottish Conservative shadow transport minister Graham Simpson MSP said: “This latest delay is another massive blow to Scotland’s betrayed island communities.
“It means that – after testing – another whole summer season will have passed without a desperate need for new CalMac boats in operation, thanks to the SNP’s massive incompetence.
“It’s another peak holiday season for hotels, restaurants and businesses completely at the mercy of a decrepit fleet that cannot be relied upon.
“The SNP bucks come and go in Ferguson and CalMac, yet not one SNP minister has carried the can for a national scandal entirely of their making.”
