CMAL bring in Norwegian contractors

FerryCaledonian Maritime Assets have contracted Norwegian specialist Kongsberg Maritime to undertake engineering, procurement, construction and installation projects in connection with two new 100m dual-fuel passenger and vehicle ferries to be built on the River Clyde by Ferguson Marine Engineering for operation by Caledonian-MacBrayne.

Kongsberg will provide a 'full picture' system delivery including its subsidiary Kongsberg Maritime Engineering in a deal worth almost US$19 million. Total cost for the 1,000 passenger/ 127 car or 16 HGV vessels was estimated at GBP97 million when the contract was awarded by the Scottish Government in September 2015.

Designed to use LNG or marine diesel fuel, the first ferry to serve Arran between Ardrossan and Brodick, is to be delivered early in 2018, with the other, set to link Uig, Skye, with Lochmaddy, North Uist, and Tarbert, Harris, following a few months later. They are to replace CALEDONIAN ISLES built for the Arran run in 1993 and HEBRIDES, introduced for service from Uig during 2000.