New Arran ferry still needs permanent fix for anchor system

Arran’s long-awaited new ferry still needs a permanent solution to a problem with its anchor system, before it can start carrying passengers to and from the island.

Managers at the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow say it is "very disappointing" the issue on the Glen Sannox was not spotted earlier.

The ferry was handed over to Scottish Government agency CMAL last week after several years of construction delays.

READ MORE: Arran islander joy as Glen Sannox is delivered to Calmac

MSPs have now heard that Glen Sannox will receive a long-term fix to its anchor system in the coming weeks, with the aim of having the ferry carrying passengers by mid-January.

Holyrood's Transport Committee was also told that Ferguson Marine is struggling to find a permanent chief executive officer, with interim CEO John Petticrew's contract being extended to Easter next year.

Mr Petticrew and others gave evidence to the committee on Tuesday.

Board chairman Andrew Miller said "10 years' worth of negative publicity around the enterprise" is making it difficult to find a permanent leader for the business, which is now owned by the Scottish Government.

Mr Petticrew said the handover of Glen Sannox to CMAL has been an "emotional" moment for those at the yard.

Work still needed to repair ship's anchor system

The most recent delay in the delivery of the vessel was due to a problem with part of the ship's anchor system called the gypsy, which is used to hoist the anchor chain.

The interim CEO said a "permanent solution will be in there in the coming weeks", explaining the initial round of sea trials in February had not identified the issue.

He said a "safe" solution which had been signed off by the ship classification society is in place at the minute, though SNP MSP Kevin Stewart pressed him on why there was a problem with such a "simple and basic system".

Mr Petticrew said: "I was as surprised as anybody at the fact we had the issues that we had.

"It was very, very disappointing that in February it hadn't been signed off or it hadn't been indicated that we had this issue."

He also discussed the long-running delays to the installation of the ferry's liquified natural gas (LNG) fuel system, saying a "minute bubble" in the piping led to considerable remedial work.

Glen Sannox is currently undergoing trials with CMAL before it is handed over to CalMac.

Ferguson boss "90% confident" on delivery date for second ferry

The Ferguson Marine officials said they are targeting a handover date of September 2025 for Glen Rosa, the second CalMac vessel being built at the yard, with Mr Petticrew saying he has "about 90%" confidence in this timescale.

He told MSPs the LNG system on Glen Sannox is now "working fabulously" and he wanted to see it installed on Glen Rosa as well.

Mr Petticrew also said staff at the shipyard are working “night and day” to deliver the second of the two long-delayed and overbudget ferries, and that he is “90% confident” the Glen Rosa will be delivered by the current target date of September next year.

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