CalMac ferry MV Isle of Islay handed over following build in Turkey

The first of four CalMac ferries being built in Turkey has been formally handed over at a ceremony in Yalova.

MV Isle of Islay officially received approval and passenger certification from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on Thursday.

It was meant to be delivered in October 2024, but supply issues, labour shortages and bad weather caused months of delay.

The vessel, which can carry 450 passengers and 100 cars or 14 HGVs, is the first of four new Islay-class ferries being built at the yard.

The increased capacity is expected to boost vehicle and freight capability on Islay routes by around 40%, improving overall fleet resilience.

Preparations are now under way for her repositioning voyage from the Sea of Marmara to Scotland, which will be undertaken by operator CalMac and is expected to take around two weeks.

The vessel is the first of four that will serve Scottish routes. Clark Communications via Supplied

Once in Scotland, the ferry will undergo crew familiarisation and local operational trials before entering service.

Scotland’s cabinet secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said the handover marked an important milestone in improving lifeline ferry services.

“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”, she added

“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. I very much look forward to the MV Isle of Islay entering service in the coming weeks.”

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said taking ownership of the MV Isle of Islay represented significant progress in efforts to modernise the Scottish ferry fleet.

He said: “Taking ownership of the MV Isle of Islay marks a great step forward in our plan to rejuvenate the Scottish ferry fleet. Her arrival in Scotland and subsequent entry into service will be welcomed by the island communities.

“The team at Cemre have worked tirelessly to deliver this vessel under difficult global circumstances, and we’ll continue to work closely with them as they finish her sister vessel, MV Loch Indaal, and subsequent ferries MV Lochmor and MV Claymore, destined for the Skye Triangle.

The increased capacity is expected to boost vehicle and freight capability on Islay routes by around 40%, improving overall fleet resilience.

MV Isle of Islay will be joined later this year by her sister ship, MV Loch Indaal.

Two further vessels in the class, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore, are also under construction and are intended to serve routes on the Skye Triangle.

Duncan Mackison, CEO at CalMac, said: “Delivery of MV Isle of Islay is an exciting milestone in efforts to modernise CalMac’s major vessel fleet. 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.

“Her arrival, and the subsequent arrival of her sister vessels, will enhance resilience across the whole major vessel fleet and increase our capability to provide consistent, reliable services for multiple island communities.”