MARKED by a CalMac ship’s master raising a red ensign, ferry Glen Sannox is finally in the hands of her owner Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd.
The final paperwork was signed last night. Launched into the Clyde at Ferguson Marine, Port Glasgow, in November 2017, she is the first vessel in the UK to have a dual-fuel propulsion system which can use both conventional marine gas oil (MGO) — similar to diesel — or liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Over recent weeks Glen Sannox has become a familiar sight during her sea trials on the Clyde, testing her manoeuvrability, acceleration and speed. The formal signing means the vessel has met all requirements of Lloyd’s Register and the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA).
John Petticrew, interim chief executive of Ferguson Marine, said: “Glen Sannox is a fine vessel, well capable of providing decades of service for islanders and visitors. However, there is no doubt it’s been a long haul getting to this point, and we sympathise with ferry users who have waited so long to see this day. Looking to the future, our ability to adapt, learn from, and successfully overcome considerable challenges demonstrates the resilience and skills of our workforce, and will provide huge value as we tender for future contracts.”
MV Glen Sannox facts
- The vessel is 102 metres long
- She has capacity for 852 passengers, 127 cars, and 16 heavy goods vehicles.
- The ship contains 300km (186 miles) of cabling and 12,500 pipe sections.
- Officer and crew quarters can accommodate up to 32 people
- The bridge features port and starboard wing control units offering complete control of the ship while manoeuvring into harbour. A glass floor panel allows the officers to see how close they are to the quay.
- The LNG is stored at minus 160-170C in a huge tank in the belly of the ship, and moved around in cryogenic pipes.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: “This is an important milestone for Ferguson Marine as it delivers the first LNG dual-fuel ferry to be built in the UK. Glen Sannox will provide resilience to the fleet delivering vital lifeline services to islanders and I am encouraged that the Scottish Government’s wider programme to procure six new ferries by 2026 has taken another major step forward.”
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive officer at CMAL, said: “I’m sure many people will join us in celebrating this milestone today. It has been a long time coming, but we have now taken ownership of the MV Glen Sannox, and are just weeks away from her entering service. This is the first of six major vessels being replaced in our fleet, with the other five well underway. We are working hard to rejuvenate the Scottish ferry fleet and infrastructure, on behalf of communities across Scotland.”
Duncan Mackison, CalMac’s interim chief executive, said: “MV Glen Sannox is a welcome addition to the CalMac fleet. Her arrival will benefit communities across the whole west coast ferry network, as new tonnage gives us more flexibility in how we deploy vessels. Our crew are excited to sail her and will now get to work to complete operational trials and familiarisation work in the next few weeks before she enters service for Arran.”
