FERGUSON Marine, Port Glasgow has not been chosen as lead bidder for a contract to build seven new Loch-class electric ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne routes.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) intends to award the work to Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A in Gdansk, Poland, following a 10-day standstill period.
The Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP) will see seven fully electric vessels built in the first phase, for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.
Three more will be delivered in phase two of the project, which will be procured through a separate competitive tender process later this year.
Delivery of the first vessel is expected in 2027.
Following an initial exercise to identify suitably qualified and experienced shipyards, six were invited to tender for the contract, with five yards, including Ferguson Marine, returning responses.
CMAL says bids were robustly assessed against technical and financial criteria, with a 65 per cent / 35 per cent weighting, respectively. The panel scoring the bids consisted of third party marine specialists and experts from CMAL.
When scores across criteria were combined, Remontowa’s bid achieved the highest score and was identified as the winning yard.
The initial phase one vessel deployment plan will see the new vessels serving the following routes: Colintraive—Rhubodach (Bute), Lochaline—Fishnish (Mull), Tarbert (Loch Fyne)—Portavadie (Peninsula), Iona—Fionnphort (Mull), Sconser—Raasay (Raasay), Tobermory—Kilchoan (Mull), Tayinloan—Gigha (Gigha)
Through cascade of existing vessels and port works, the following two routes will also benefit: Largs—Cumbrae (Cumbrae) and Oban—Lismore (Lismore)
The deployment plans will be kept under review to ensure the best alignment of vessel replacement, port works, shore power and cascades.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said: “I welcome this milestone being reached in the procurement to build and deliver seven new small vessels to our ferry network.
“These seven new vessels will help improve connectivity and resilience for island residents, businesses and communities, and their electric operation will contribute to reduced carbon emissions from Scotland’s ferry fleet and make ferry travel more sustainable.
“I appreciate all the work that has gone into getting us to this important stage of the procurement process, particularly by CMAL, and am hopeful that we can look forward to contracts being signed at the end of the required standstill period.”
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL, said: “It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels which meet the needs of islanders, but that also deliver the best value for the public purse.
“We are confident in Remontowa’s ability, and have worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of the MV Finlaggan in 2011. We will now enter a 10-day standstill period before finalising the contract.”
Duncan Mackison, CalMac’s chief executive, said: “Confirming the lead bidder is a significant milestone for CalMac, and we’re excited to welcome new, modern small vessels to the fleet from 2027 onwards. Small vessels are an integral part of our operation, and new tonnage will allow us to improve the resilience of our service and the experience customers have on these routes.
“These seven new vessels, when combined with the six major new vessels joining the fleet in 2025 and 2026, will mean a third of our entire fleet has been renewed.”
