The appointment marks the start of the project’s concept design phase, during which vessel concepts and design options will be developed and assessed. As part of this process, CMAL and naValue will investigate and evaluate the feasibility of low-emission vessel designs in line with the Scottish Government’s climate change commitments, including the emissions-reduction targets set out in legislation.

“We are looking forward to working with naValue on the concept design for the new Mull vessels. These ferries will play a vital role in supporting communities, businesses and visitors on the Oban–Craignure route, and it is important that the design process reflects the needs of those who rely on the service. We will explore practical design options that support reliable ferry services while helping reduce emissions across the Clyde and Hebrides network,” said Jim Anderson, Director of Vessels at CMAL.

The New Mull Vessels project is set to replace 2015 built LOCH FRISA and the much larger ISLE OF MULL, built in 1988, with new electric ferries.

The German ferry design company is already a well-established supplier of ship designs to CMAL. This includes the four newbuildings ISLE OF ISLAY, CLAYMORE, LOCH INDAAL and LOCHMOR, of which ISLE OF ISLAY is so far the only vessel to have been delivered by Cemre Shipyard in Türkiye.

In May this year, naValue, together with LMG Marin, was also selected by Guangzhou Shipyard International to provide the designs for CMAL’s two newbuildings for NorthLink’s routes between Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick, which were contracted in March this year.

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