Glen Sannox’s first sea trials ‘overwhelmingly positive’
The hugely-late ferry Glen Sannox’s first sea trials have been hailed as "overwhelmingly positive" by builders Ferguson Marine after four days of tests in the Clyde.
Shipyard chief executive David Tydeman said yesterday that the trials, in which the vessel moved under its own power for the first time, "clearly demonstrated the advanced technology it will bring to the Calmac fleet".
The news will come as a huge relief to ministers, who have expressed increasing frustration with the ferry contract fiasco, which has seen costs more than triple from the original £97 million and both the Glen Sannox and her sister ship Glen Rosa run six years late.
Fears remain, however, that the shipyard’s latest review of the project could see them delayed yet further.
Glen Sannox, which will be west coast operator Calmac’s second largest with space for more than 850 passengers and 127 cars, sailed from the Port Glasgow yard as far as Bute and Largs, where it reached its maximum speed of 16.7 knots (19.2mph).
Glen Rosa is due to be launched in April and completed next year.
Glen Sannox will require further work before its scheduled completion in late May. The vessel will undergo two months of testing by Calmac before being due to go into service on the main Arran routein late July or early August.
Sailings will operate from
Troon for several years while Ardrossan harbour is upgraded to accommodate the two ferries, which are nearly 30ft longer than existing vessel Caledonian Isles. However, the project has still to be agreed by owners Peel Ports and the Scottish Government.
This week’s so-called “builder’s sea trials”, overseen by certification body Lloyds Register, involved testing Glen Sannox’s propulsion, automation, power generation and navigational systems.
Ferguson Marine said the tests were to “evaluate her performance and manoeuvring capabilities as well as speed, stability and efficiency”. They included the ship going full astern [reverse] and “fast stops”, and systems tested included the main engines, generators, thrusters and communications.
Mr Tydeman said: “The results of this first phase of trials have been overwhelmingly positive. Next steps will be a return to Ferguson Marine, whereshewillundergofurther outfitting and liquefied natural gas system work before a trip to the dry dock [in Greenock] in early April.
“After that will come what’s known as ‘owner’s sea trials’, with representatives of Scottish ministers on board. In April and May, she will also undergo endurance tests, when she will operate at higher speeds for longer periods.”
Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Graham
Simpson said: “It’s good news that this initial sea trial has gone well. Let us hope that everything else goes to plan and that this farce comes to an end soon. We still, of course, don’t know where the Glen Sannox will call home, which is causing great concern for islanders.”