CALEDONIAN MARITIME Assets Limited (CMAL) announced this week that the contract to build seven new loch-class electric ferry, including vessels for the Colintraive – Rhuboddach and Portavadie – Tarbert routes – will be awarded to Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A in Gdansk, Poland, following a ten-day standstill period.
CMAL said in a statement: “The electric ferries will help to support island communities and improve the resilience of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network, with delivery of the first vessel expected in 2027.
“Following an initial exercise to identify suitably qualified and experienced shipyards, six were invited to tender for the contract, with five yards returning responses.”
The contract was expected to go to the Scottish Government-owned Fergusson Marine yard in Port Glasgow.
However, CMAL said: “Bids were robustly assessed against technical and financial criteria, with a 65 / 35 per cent weighting, respectively. The panel scoring the bids consisted of third party marine specialists and experts from CMAL.
“When scores across criteria were combined, Remontowa’s bid achieved the highest score and was identified as the winning yard.”
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop said: “I welcome this milestone being reached in
the procurement to build and deliver seven new small vessels to our ferry network.
“These seven new vessels will help improve connectivity and resilience for island residents, businesses and communities, and their electric operation will contribute to reduced carbon emissions from Scotland’s ferry fleet and make ferry travel more sustainable.
“I appreciate all the work that has gone into getting us to this important stage of the procurement process, particularly by CMAL, and am hopeful that we can look forward to contracts being signed at the end of the required standstill period.”
Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive of CMAL said: “It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels which meet the needs of islanders, but that also deliver the best value for the public purse.
“We are confident in Remontowa’s ability, and have worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of the MV Finlaggan in 2011. We will now enter a 10-day standstill period before finalising the contract.”
The five yards which returned tender responses were Cammell Laird (England),
Cemre Marin Endustri A.S (Turkey), Damen Offshore and Specialized Vessels B.V (Netherlands), Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow (Scotland) and
Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A (Poland).
Although new ferries bring good news for some local communities, replacement vessels for the Dunoon – Gourock route seem as far away as ever this week. In 2022 Transport Scotland trumpeted that there would be new vessels by 2025.
A year later this was delayed until 2026. Now, Transport Scotland is unable to give a date for the delivery of new boats. Indeed, the Scottish Government’s transport wing is unable to confirm that there will be new tonnage for the route at all.
We asked Transport Scotland for a date of delivery for new vessels, what stage the procurement process is at and if ministers have approved spending on the Dunoon vessels.
A spokesperson would only say: “Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) is leading a vessel replacement project alongside plans for upgrade works at the relevant ports and harbours by CMAL (Gourock) and Argyll and Bute Council (Dunoon and Kilcreggan).
“Preferred vessel and infrastructure options for ferry services to Dunoon and Kilcreggan are being considered as part of the outline business case and this work is ongoing. Any investment in new vessels and infrastructure must offer value for money and be affordable.”
Transport Scotland seems to be aware of exciting news reported elsewhere in this newspaper about the Dunoon Project.
A source close to the Scottish Government body said: “Reliability is a key issue for passengers: this was recognised in the needs assessment report and was a clear message.
“Addressing the reliability issue will, when delivered, bring benefits to current passengersandisexpectedto attract additional patronage, supporting the positive developments taking place in Dunoon and Cowal.”
Argyll and Bute Council is responsible for harbour upgrades at Dunoon and Kilcreggan.
The council’s recent ‘preferred options’ for both harbours were roundly rejected by public consultations.
A council spokesperson said: “We are working towards an outline business case for shore-side facilities at Dunoon and Kilcreggan and remain in close dialogue with Transport Scotland and CMAL to ensure that design proposals will meet the requirements of the new vessels.”
