MV Glen Sannox (2017)
Car and passenger ferry for Caledonian MacBrayne / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
MV Glen Sannox is a dual-fuel car and passenger ferry constructed at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow for Caledonian MacBrayne, planned to serve the Ardrossan to Brodick crossing. Initially expected to enter service in summer 2018, the ship only began its sea trials in February 2024.[5][6] It has been the subject of continuing political scandal known as the "ferry fiasco" regarding increased costs and lengthy delays.[7][8][9]
Passing Greenock when starting sea trials, 13 February 2024 | |
History | |
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Name | Glen Sannox[1] |
Namesake | MV Glen Sannox (1957) and Glen Sannox on the Isle of Arran |
Operator | Caledonian MacBrayne |
Port of registry | Glasgow |
Route | Ardrossan–Brodick |
Builder | Ferguson Marine, Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, Scotland |
Cost | £97 million original contract for two ferries; £340 million as of September 2022 |
Yard number | 801 |
Laid down | 17 February 2017 |
Launched | 21 November 2017 |
Christened | by Nicola Sturgeon |
Identification | IMO number: 9794513 |
Status | Sea trials |
General characteristics | |
Tonnage | 1,273 DWT[2] |
Length | 102.4 m (335 ft 11 in)[2] |
Beam | 17 m (55 ft 9 in)[2] |
Draught | 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in)[2] |
Installed power | 2 × Wärtsilä 34DF diesels[3] |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 14.5 kn (26.85 km/h)[2] |
Capacity |
Originally expected to enter service in 2018, [1] construction delays led to her launch being pushed back to November 2017, with the ship then expected to begin operation in late 2018 or early 2019.[10] After further delays, handover was expected between March and May 2023 - five years late.[11][12] On 16 March 2023, it was reported that further delays had pushed the vessel's entry into service to Autumn 2023;[13] in August 2023, a further delay to the start of the summer 2024 timetable was announced.[14] A further delay was announced on 19 April 2024 due to complications with the vessel's LNG powerplants, with the vessel now due to be delivered by 31 July 2024, however Ferguson Marine expect no further increase in cost. [15]