Quango announces start of procurement process for £50 million ferry to serve Islay

0 MV Hebridean Isles will be replaced by the new vessel

The procurement process for a new ferry which will serve Islay – estimated to cost £50 million – has begun, the SNP Government’s quango Transport Scotland has announced.

The first stage will assess if interested shipyards meet the criteria to take the project on, before an invitation to tender is issued later this year.

In the past year, the procurement process for ferries has come under scrutiny following long delays with two vessels from the publicly owned Ferguson Marine shipyard in

Port Glasgow. The delays will cost the public purse more than twice the original £97 million fixed price contract.

Holyrood's rural economy and connectivity committee described the process as a "catastrophic failure".

Yesterday, transport minister Graeme Dey said: "I'm pleased to announce the process to build a new ferry for Islay is formally under way. The route is one of the busiest services for freight on the Clyde and Hebrides network and this new vessel will help to grow the island's economy, as well as bring added resilience to the fleet.

"This underlines the Scottish Government's commitment to bringing in new ferries to support our island communities.

"We look forward to continuing to work with key stakeholders to develop programmes for major vessels and small vessels, investing at least £580 million over the next five years."

The vessel will replace MV Hebridean Isles on the route from Kennacraig to Port Askaig.

Jim Anderson, director of vessels at Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited, the Scottish Government-backed body charged with procuring vessels, said: "Reaching the procurement stage is the culmination of robust project planning over the past 18 months.

"This marks an important step forward in bringing a new vessel to Islay and Jura. It is one of several new vessel and harbour upgrade projects we are progressing to improve the resilience of ferry services for island communities."

Robbie Drummond, managing director of ferry operator Calmac, welcomed the addition, which he said would "provide much-needed additional capacity on the route to support the economic growth of the island".