The first of four new Islay-class ferries has been formally handed over to Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, marking a key milestone in efforts to renew Scotland’s ferry fleet.
MV Isle of Islay has been officially transferred to Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) following a handover ceremony at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey, where the vessel was constructed.
The ship is the first of four ferries being built at the yard and is intended to serve the Islay and Jura routes. She will be followed later this year by sister vessel MV Loch Indaal, with two further ships, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore, planned for services on the Skye Triangle. The vessel has now received Maritime and Coastguard Agency approval and passenger certification. Preparations will begin for her repositioning voyage from the Sea of Marmara to Scotland, a journey expected to take around two weeks and to be carried out by operators CalMac. Once in Scotland, MV Isle of Islay will undergo crew familiarisation and local operational trials before entering service. Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop described the handover as a significant step forward.
“The formal handover of the MV Isle of Islay from Cemre to CMAL is an important milestone in the delivery of improvements to our lifeline ferry services,” she said. “Full focus is now on preparing the vessel for entry into service for the benefit of our island communities and businesses as soon as possible.”
Hyslop added that the ship underlines continued investment in the ferry network.
“The MV Isle of Islay is the first of the four new Islay-class vessels set to serve Scotland’s ferry network, underlining the Scottish Government’s commitment to investing in our fleet and related port infrastructure.”
CMAL Chief Executive Kevin Hobbs said taking ownership of the vessel marked progress in renewing the fleet.
“Taking ownership of the MV Isle of Islay marks a great step forward in our plan to rejuvenate the Scottish ferry fleet,” he said. “Her arrival in Scotland and subsequent entry into service will be welcomed by the island communities.”
He also praised the Turkish yard for delivering the ship under challenging conditions and confirmed continued cooperation on the remaining vessels. CalMac Chief Executive Duncan Mackison said the handover was a major milestone for operators and crews.
“Delivery of MV Isle of Islay is an exciting milestone in efforts to modernise CalMac’s major vessel fleet,” he said. “The crew and local port teams are raring to go, and we will now undertake a period of essential familiarisation and trials to get her ready to enhance Islay’s service.”
The new ferry can carry up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles. According to CMAL, this represents a 40% increase in vehicle and freight capacity on Islay routes, aimed at improving resilience and reliability across the wider fleet.
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