The lead bidder for Scotland’s new fleet of loch-class electric ferries has been identified, with Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. in Gdańsk, Poland, set to build seven vessels under the Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP).
The contract, managed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), is subject to a 10-day standstill period before being finalised. The fully electric ferries will play a crucial role in improving connectivity for Scotland’s island communities and reducing the carbon footprint of ferry travel. The first vessel is expected to enter service in 2027.
The SVRP aims to enhance the resilience of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network by replacing ageing vessels with modern, environmentally friendly alternatives. Six shipyards were invited to tender for the contract, with five submitting bids:
- Cammell Laird (England)
- Cemre Marin Endustri A.S. (Turkey)
- Damen Offshore and Specialized Vessels B.V. (Netherlands)
- Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Scotland)
- Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A. (Poland)
Bids were evaluated against technical (65%) and financial (35%) criteria by a panel of third-party marine specialists and CMAL experts. Remontowa received the highest score, making it the winning bidder.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, welcomed the progress, stating:
“I welcome this milestone being reached in the procurement to build and deliver seven new small vessels to our ferry network. These new vessels will help improve connectivity and resilience for island residents, businesses, and communities. Their electric operation will also contribute to reduced carbon emissions from Scotland’s ferry fleet, making ferry travel more sustainable.”
CMAL Chief Executive Kevin Hobbs mentioned the importance of public procurement rules and value for money, saying:
“It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels that meet the needs of islanders while delivering the best value for the public purse. We are confident in Remontowa’s ability, having worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of MV Finlaggan in 2011.”
Renewing Scotland’s Ferry Fleet
The seven electric ferries will serve key routes across Scotland, including:
- Colintraive—Rhubodach (Bute)
- Lochaline—Fishnish (Mull)
- Tarbert (Loch Fyne)—Portavadie (Peninsula)
- Iona—Fionnphort (Mull)
- Sconser—Raasay (Raasay)
- Tobermory—Kilchoan (Mull)
- Tayinloan—Gigha (Gigha)
Additionally, Largs—Cumbrae and Oban—Lismore will benefit from cascading existing vessels and improved port infrastructure.
CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison highlighted the impact of the SVRP, stating:
“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. These seven new vessels, combined with six major new ferries arriving in 2025 and 2026, mean that a third of our fleet will have been renewed.”
With the contract award approaching finalisation, Scotland’s ferry network, say the organisation, is set for a modern, sustainable, and more resilient future.
Sensible decision. In service from 2027 is nice and prompt.
Pity the UKs yards couldn’t get a viable winning bid together.
Probably more Scottish yard not getting a viable bid together. I highly doubt Cammell Laird would get it regardless. It’s too politically explosive
Yet the UK builds its warships in Scotland. About time the Scottish government became a team player.
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I’m just glad Ferguson Marine did not get the contract. Turns out the welding work that was done on the MV Glen Sannox might not last 2 years.
SNP surrendering any right to bitch about Westminster not supporting the Clyde I see.
Oh they will still find someway to blame Westminster
Westminster builds in Scotland, Scottish firm builds in Poland. Oops!
Have UKDJ been able to confirm that the increased capacity electricity supplies required have been costed, funded and timelines are suitable for vessel delivery dates?
I’ve never seen an announcement on this and in some cases the work involved may be much more and take longer than actually building the ferries
That is a very well made point.
Presumably they will charge at the mainland departure point? So it doesn’t stress the island’s connector?
Will probably be like the LNG on the others – better to use diesel?
Cammell Laird did a roro ferry for Red Funnel a couple of years ago. Shame they didn’t get the contract. I wonder if it’s becuase they the time they can can deliver it. They have the Mersey Ferry to complete and frigate sections to complete.
Excellent news for welding! Rumours abound that all future Type 26 hulls are to be made in Poland too. Type 31’s to be made in South Korea ( biters beware, infantry veteran humour )
The LPG ferries were a political point from the SNP that pushed the yard too far.
However, given the importance of ship building skills to Scotland, i struggle to understand why these contracts have gone abroad given that Fergusons have delivered such before and could do again.
Yes, the foreign yard was cheaper, but we are outside of the EU now and so the SNP would have had more scope to go with best for society if it wanted. Unless the Polish yard was substantially cheaper
Maybe the shipbuilding and industrial strategies should be looking at yards that can handle OPV’s, Cutters, CPV’s, Ferries and other smaller ships and boats? We won’t get them cheaper, but we’ll get the skills and money flowing into the UK economy.
BAE’s books should be full when we are looking at River replacements, don’t know if they could realistically work replacements in.
There will be capacity in the Babcock build sheds to do this?
Every body knows getting a good deal for “taxpayers” (whowever they are; the Tory rich I guess) means buying everything wherever it is cheapest: unless you understand Economics (or National Economics, as it should be called.) But Politicians, who know a bit about everything but not much about a lot, do not understand National Economics); neither do their Accountants who control Purchasing Decisions. In fact, this costs Scotland and the Scottish Treasury millions. Instead of earning bonuses and promotions these bean-counters should be sacked without pensions. 100 million spent abroad is gone for ever. 150 millions spent in Scotland is spent again and again in Scotland (money spent within an economy is passed on and goes around and around). Within 5 years, of 150 million spent in Scotland around 100 million will end in the Scottish Treasury as income (as taxation mostly). But if this is too intellectual for you; imagine this: everybody in Scotland should buy everything from China because that will be cheaper and save them money; and that will be a good deal for Scottisch folk because they will all save money and therefore all Scots will be richer. Common sense! Unless the economy collapses because all the wealth ends up in China or Poland; which is exactly what our Politicans and Bean-Counters are doing.
Spot on, exactly what I was going to say.
Short term savings for long term pain. It’s the reason Trump has brought in tariffs, but most who comment on it cannot grasp this pretty simple concept.
Tax clawback. Even the turning the tide research knew from building taxpayer funded ships especially steel intensive ships and in this case, the fleet solid support ships, over fifty percent was returned to the exchequer. This is economic illiteracy.
Nice to see SNP/Labour’s industrial strategy in full flow, contracts going abroad, welds springing open on overdue over-priced ferries cannot wait for the final decision unsaving British Steel!
This seems a little ironic – no?
I don’t know, I think it looks alright. A couple o 40/60 bofors fore n aft, laafing. 😲🕳️Btth.
Perhaps if all the comnplainers had spent less time slagging off Fergusons they might have been better placed.