Ministers approve extra funding to complete island ferries

Scottish ministers have approved around £20 million in additional costs to complete three new ferries being built in Turkey for Islay and the Little Minch, with the final vessel now expected to be delivered during the second quarter of 2027, according to the Scottish Government.

The additional funding was confirmed by Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn in a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s Transport Committee dated 31 August. The money covers completion of MV Loch Indaal, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore, the three remaining vessels ordered from the Cemre shipyard in Türkiye.

Under the latest schedule, MV Loch Indaal is expected to be delivered by October 2026, subject to completion of final commissioning and certification. MV Lochmor is expected during the first quarter of 2027, while MV Claymore is scheduled for delivery during the second quarter of the year. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited is continuing to press for all three vessels to be completed as early as practicable.

Flynn wrote: “Ministers have approved around £20 million of additional project costs to complete all three vessels and CMAL have agreed appropriate addendums to the commercial contracts, protecting public investment and maintaining the original vessel specifications.”

The Cabinet Secretary said ministers had remained in close contact with Transport Scotland and CMAL while arrangements for completing the vessels were being developed. The Scottish Government considers the agreements now in place appropriate for maintaining progress on construction while protecting the public investment already committed to the programme.

CMAL will retain ownership of the vessels throughout the remainder of the construction process and will continue to manage expenditure through to delivery. The organisation has staff based at the yard monitoring progress, supported by regular visits from senior management teams as work continues on the three ships.

Flynn said: “CMAL continue robust monitoring through their on-site staff, as well as regular visits by senior management teams.” He added that the full terms of the amended commercial arrangements and detailed costs could not be published because of commercial sensitivities.

The letter states: “Full details of the contract addendums, ongoing activities and incurred costs following detailed review cannot be shared due to commercial sensitivities but CMAL will retain control of the vessel ownership and actively manage costs for the remainder of the build process up to and including delivery, prior to repositioning voyages.”

The three ships form part of the programme to introduce new vessels serving Islay and Little Minch routes. The latest update establishes the planned delivery sequence for the remaining ships and confirms that their original specifications are being retained under the amended agreements with the yard.

MV Loch Indaal is therefore due to be the next vessel delivered, provided its remaining commissioning and certification work is completed, followed by MV Lochmor and then MV Claymore during the first half of 2027.