The shortlisted names are:

• LOCH AWE
• LOCH DOON
• LOCH EARN
• LOCH ECK
• LOCH ERICHT
• LOCH ETIVE
• LOCH GARRY
• LOCH KATRINE
• LOCH LEVEN
• LOCH LUBNAIG
• LOCH LYON
• LOCH MAREE
• LOCH MORAR
• LOCH QUOICH
• LOCH RANNOCH
• LOCH SHIEL
• LOCH TUMMEL

The public can cast their votes at cmal.scot/vote from 7 November 2025, until 23:59 on 28 November 2025.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said:

“I am pleased that communities who will use these seven new vessels will have the opportunity to help choose their names through a public vote.

“Alongside our significant investment in six new major vessels, these seven new small vessels will serve routes across the Clyde and Hebrides for years to come, increasing capacity and providing vital resilience and reliability to the fleet. These vessels will also contribute to reduced carbon emissions and provide cleaner local air quality across the network with their electric operation.

“Inspired by Scotland’s lochs, it’s a fitting tribute to see potential names for these new vessels rightly link to the current loch-class vessels they are set to replace. I would encourage all with an interest to take part in the public vote and look forward to seeing the results in due course."

Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL, said:

“These all-electric vessels will be a welcome addition to our fleet and will serve the islands for many years to come. It’s important that the communities who use them play a part in giving them their names.

“With a strong list of options, each having a connection to Scotland’s iconic lochs, I look forward to seeing which ones the public choose.”

Work to build the new loch-class electric ferries is progressing well at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk, with the steel-cutting ceremony taking place in September 2025.

The new ferries will serve key routes, including Colintraive-Rhubodach, Lochaline-Fishnish, Tarbert-Portavadie, Iona-Fionnphort, Sconser-Raasay, Tobermory-Kilchoan and Tayinloan-Gigha.

Providing improved reliability and resilience for lifeline ferry services, the delivery of seven fully electric ferries in the first phase will support the renewal of the small vessel fleet across the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network.

Following a competitive tender process, the contract to build the vessels was awarded to Remontowa in March 2025. SVRP phase one represents a GBP 160 million investment from Scottish Government, with the shipbuilding contract valued at GBP 147.5 million. The first vessel in phase one is expected to be delivered in 2027.  

The SVRP is part of CMAL’s wider investment programme and will also see the delivery of the significant harbour upgrades across the network in preparation for the new vessels.

© Shippax