Summary
One new ferry, MV Isle of Islay, is entering service on the west coast of Scotland, but CalMac still faces a serious shortage of vessels. Several ships are either under maintenance or have technical problems, affecting services and capacity.
Key Facts
- MV Isle of Islay is the first of four new ships built in Turkey set to serve the west coast of Scotland.
- The ferry's first passenger trip was delayed due to technical issues, but these have been resolved.
- The ferry can carry 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 heavy trucks, boosting route capacity by 40%.
- Currently, five out of CalMac's 11 major vessels are unavailable due to faults or maintenance.
- The shortage requires reassigning ships to different routes to maintain some services.
- MV Isle of Islay was ordered four years ago, with delivery delays due to factors like the Ukraine conflict and a Turkish earthquake.
- The new ships, including Isle of Islay, feature a sleek, fuel-efficient design with a deeper draught.
- They use advanced propulsion systems for better maneuverability, different from traditional propellers.
