‘Berthing trials and final preparations for her entry to service’
Passengers are expected to start to use CalMac’s newest addition to the fleet towards the end of this month. MV Isle of Islay is set to depart on trials from today and will be taking in Troon, Brodick and Campbeltown on Wednesday (11 March).
The vessel will also be heading to Port Askaig on Islay to stay there for a couple of days as the crew receives training on the winch aid.
‘Network trials are a key part of getting MV Isle of Islay ready for service, as we will get a clear picture of where she and her three sister vessels can operate,’ explains Louis de Wolff, CalMac’s Fleet Management Director.
‘That is vital for building in the resilience and flexibility in services we expect these new vessels to bring and should allow us to shorten the time it takes to get MV Loch Indaal, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore into service once they are delivered.’
‘We’re excited that communities across the Clyde and Hebrides will get to see the vessel steaming their way in the coming days. Soon, she’ll greatly enhance the ferry service to the mainland that the people of Islay and Jura depend on.’
The next few days will see the ferry complete trials at Port Askaig, Colonsay, Oban, Coll, Tiree, Castlebay, Lochmaddy, Stornoway, Ullapool, Tarbert and Uig.
It’s envisaged that next week will see the crew complete final preparations for entering service. Managers say they aim to start to carry passengers ahead of the start of the summer timetable.
‘Building in the resilience and flexibility in services’
‘Following the successful build and handover of MV Isle of Islay in Turkey, it’s great to see the CalMac team carrying out the berthing trials and final preparations for her entry to service,’ says Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive of CMAL.
‘Our focus is now on expediting the delivery of her sister vessel, MV Loch Indaal, as well as the next two vessels in this class for the Little Minch, and the seven ferries in the Small Vessel Replacement Programme.’
‘This long-term investment means a third of the CalMac fleet will be renewed by the end of the decade.’
With around five million passengers every year, the CalMac fleet is considered to be an essential part of everyday life in Scotland – especially for people living in remote areas and on the islands which surround the country.
‘Full focus remains on preparing the MV Isle of Islay to enter service as soon as is practicable for the people and economy of Islay and Jura,’ says Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport.
‘These next steps will enable the crew to fully test the vessel’s capabilities, and the results of the network trials should allow for the following three Islay-class vessels to enter service sooner, once they are delivered.’
Breaktime News recently reported on the Isle of Islay’s 4400 nautical mile journey from the Cemre shipyard in Turkey to Scotland.
