Calmac
Argyll and Bute Council · 6 June 2025
Back to Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership - Management Committee — 6 June 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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New Islay Vessels and Port Enabling Works
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Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde & Hebridean Ferries Confidential – Do not distribute without express permission of CalMac Ferries Ltd. Agenda Ø Vessel Update Ø CalMac Operational Readiness Ø Port Enabling Works Update o Kennacraig o Colonsay o Port Askaig o Port Ellen Ø Questions
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Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde & Hebridean Ferries Vessels Update CalMac expects the MV Isle of Islay delivery will be in Q3/2025 and will enter into service on the CalMac network shortly thereafter This is subject to successful completion of commissioning, sea trials, compartment completion, Classification Society, and MCA surveys. The remaining New Islay Class vessels are scheduled for delivery at 6-month intervals thereafter.
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Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde & Hebridean Ferries Information Classification: Internal 4 Operational Readiness CalMac are working on Operational Readiness in preparation for the arrival of the new vessels, these activities include: • Timetabling • Retail preparations • Customer preparations • Crewing and training • IT installation and testing • Communications planning • Delivery to Operations (DTO) The DTO plan will be carried out over a period of 8 weeks prior to the vessel entering service on the Islay route. This period is inclusive of the 2 weeks voyage from Turkey to the UK, followed by 6 weeks of Operational Readiness, Crew Familiarisation and full berthing trials across the network.
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Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde & Hebridean Ferries Information Classification: Internal 5 Port Enabling Works Ø CMAL are required to undertake port enabling works at Kennacraig, Port Askaig and Colonsay to accommodate the new Islay vessels. There is a separate project underway for the development at Port Ellen. Ø Kennacraig serves as the mainland port for both the Port Ellen and Port Askaig services, featuring connections to Colonsay on Wednesdays and Saturdays, contingent upon the Winter or Summer timetable period. Update on progress of works: • Kennacraig: All fendering and dredging works are now complete. Additionally, progress has been made on the electrical works to enable shore power infrastructure. Some minor works remain ongoing until early Summer. • Port Askaig: All marine works are complete, and the Mooring Aid has been installed, awaiting testing when MV Isle of Islay is delivered. • Colonsay: Colonsay works completed at the end of last year with some remedial works outstanding, these have now been rectified, and contractors are demobilising from site. • Port Ellen: Timeline for programme of works still to be finalised, construction works duration is expected to be approximately two years.
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Caledonian MacBrayne Clyde & Hebridean Ferries Information Classification: Internal 6 Any Questions?