New Scottish ferry to resume service after minor repair

As expected, the MV Glen Sannox is set to return to service on Sunday after a routine repair to a small crack in its hull.

The ferry had been temporarily withdrawn on Friday after a dive inspection identified a hairline crack on a weld seam near the waterline, an issue we previously suggested was unlikely to be a major problem.

CalMac confirmed that repairs were completed on Saturday at Brodick, with a spokesperson stating, “The dive inspection has identified a hairline crack on a weld seam on MV Glen Sannox’s hull earlier today and we can confirm repairs are now underway at Brodick and expected to complete later today. We anticipate MV Glen Sannox to resume timetabled service on Sunday 16 March and will confirm this evening.”

Glen Sannox temporarily withdrawn from service

While Glen Sannox remained out of service, the MV Alfred was deployed to provide an extra return sailing on Saturday to accommodate affected passengers.

The ferry operator also addressed speculation regarding the issue, reiterating that reports of the vessel striking a harbour or experiencing significant water ingress were “categorically untrue.” However, it was acknowledged that a “very small amount of water” had entered an area near the ship’s steering gear.

In Perspective

As we noted earlier, structural issues like this are not uncommon for newly commissioned vessels and are often identified during early inspections as ships settle into service.

Minor weld seam defects can occasionally appear, particularly in areas of high stress or flex, and are typically straightforward to address.

A marine engineer we spoke to reinforced this point, saying, “From the available information, this appears to be a minor weld defect rather than a serious structural failure. The crack is on a seam near the waterline, which suggests it may have been exacerbated by natural flexing in the hull. If that’s the case, it’s a straightforward repair, and I’d be surprised if the dive team disagrees with that assessment.”

Naval vessels, which undergo rigorous trials before deployment, alsofrequently require similar minor repairs and adjustments in their early months of service. Issues like this, while unfortunate, do not indicate any fundamental design flaw.

Ferguson Marine’s Future Work

Meanwhile, Ferguson Marine, the shipyard responsible for Glen Sannox, continues to work to secure new contracts to sustain its workforce. The company is currently in negotiations for a major subcontract, reportedly linked to additional work on the UK’s Type 26 frigate programme.

This follows Ferguson Marine’s successful delivery of hull sections for HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy frigate under construction at BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard. The shipyard has also confirmed plans to bid for further defence-related contracts as part of its long-term growth strategy.

Despite the challenges faced during the Glen Sannox project, securing defence and commercial shipbuilding contracts remains a key priority for Ferguson Marine as it looks to stabilise its operations and workforce in the years ahead.