Scotland's plan to modernize and improve its ferry fleet has faced new challenges. Reports indicate that the delivery of new ferries will be nearly two years later than scheduled, and two other ferries have also been postponed to 2027. The costs of this project have increased by approximately £27 million, which accounts for nearly 10 percent of the initial project value of £200 million.
Measures by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) took over three unfinished ferries being built in Turkey at the Cemre port in June 2026. This action was taken due to the unstable financial situation of the port. CMAL has paid £23 million to fully acquire these three vessels.
Kevin Hobbs, CEO of CMAL, stated: "Acquiring the vessels at this stage is a precautionary measure to mitigate risk and protect the investment made." The Scottish government has strongly supported this action, and if the financial situation of the port deteriorates, CMAL can transfer these vessels to another location for completion.
Numerous Delays in the Program
Despite these measures, issues in this program, which has been ongoing for nearly a decade, continue. The Scottish government announced a plan to build new vessels in April 2018, and CMAL began design work in 2019. This program includes the construction of four passenger ferries for routes including Islay, the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides.
The construction program is part of a larger 10-year investment plan by CMAL, for which the Scottish government has allocated £580 million over five years from 2021 to 2026. They have also proposed a plan to build 21 new vessels for the fleet and improve port infrastructure.
The Isle of Islay ferry, as the first vessel, has been commissioned nearly 15 months later than scheduled. CMAL, aware of the construction issues of two advanced LNG ferries named Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, has created a detailed plan for selecting a port for the island ferry project.
In March 2022, Cemre port was selected as the top bidder, and a contract worth £91 million was signed for the construction of two 95-meter ferries. These vessels are designed to increase cargo and vehicle capacity by 40 percent on the Islay route.
In October 2022, the Scottish government announced additional funding to expedite the fleet replacement program. CMAL took this opportunity to finalize a second contract for two additional sister vessels at Cemre port. These vessels, scheduled for delivery in June and October 2025, are intended for the Hebrides area known as "The Little Minch."
Despite all the challenges, CMAL continues to emphasize that it is making progress in replacing the vessels and is working on the Small Vessel Replacement Program (SVRP) at the Remontowa port in Poland.
