CalMacThe Glen Sannox has carried its first paying passengers on a trial sailing between Troon and the Isle of Arran.
It comes a day before the long-delayed and overbudget ferry finally enters service on Monday.
Passengers at Troon Port travelling to Arran on Sunday believed they would be boarding the MV Alfred, but instead they unwittingly became the first passengers to sail on the long-awaited Glen Sannox.
The trial sailing saw 38 passengers and 15 cars travel on the 12.45pm service from Troon, while the return journey from Brodick carried 154 foot passengers, 53 cars and two commercial vehicles.
The Glen Sannox’s first official sailings are scheduled to take place on Monday, but CalMac has already said early journeys could be disrupted or cancelled at short notice due to strong winds.
A number of other CalMac services have already been cancelled due to weather conditions.
On Sunday, CalMac confirmed that two outstanding issues on the vessel have been resolved ahead of Monday’s official launch.
The sewage system has now been fully optimised for passenger travel, while a replacement valve on the starboard mezz deck has been fitted.
CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison said: “Operating a test run with MV Glen Sannox gave the crew a fantastic opportunity to stress test the vessel and ensure the experience people have aboard is optimal before she formally enters service.”
“A massive effort has gone into getting MV Glen Sannox to this stage, and everyone at CalMac is excited to have her in the fleet and serving Arran.”
The building of the Glen Sannox and its sister ferry, the Glen Rosa, has been a long-running scandal in Scotland, with politicians from all sides criticising the extensive delays and cost overruns.
The original contract price for both ships was £97m, but the total costs are well in excess of £400m and the Glen Sannox has been delivered six-and-a-half years late.
Meanwhile, the Glen Rosa is due to be handed over to CalMac in September.
The Glen Sannox will operate out of Troon for the first few years while the port at Ardrossan is reconfigured.
It was handed over by the Ferguson Marine shipyard last November and underwent several weeks of crew familiarisation trials before entering service on Monday.
In 2019, the Scottish Government rescued Ferguson Marine from administration, discovering issues with the design and build of the ships that repeatedly pushed their delivery dates back.
It ignited a political firestorm that sparked two parliamentary inquiries and one of the longest-running scandals since devolution.
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