MV Glen Sannox (2017)

See also Ferry fiasco for the political controversies surrounding the construction of these units.

Glen Sannox is to be the first of two Scottish ferries capable of operating on either marine diesel oil or liquefied natural gas (LNG), with benefits of a marked reduction in carbon dioxide, sulphur and nitrous oxide emissions.[1] Her name was chosen from a shortlist by public ballot and recalls an earlier Arran ferry.[13]

The first steel was cut on 7 April 2016 and Glen Sannox was launched on 21 November 2017 by the then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon,[14][15] It has been reported that the vessel's bulbous bow was not fit for purpose at the time of the launch, and only fitted to be able to claim "milestone payments" from the Scottish Government.[16] The bridge windows were painted on,[15] and the funnels were not operational, but only for show for the launch.[16]

In August 2018, new Cabinet Secretary for Transport Michael Matheson said it had been confirmed that the ship was to be delivered in June 2019, followed by two months of crew familiarisation and sea trials.[17] Further dispute over the contract overrun led to the shipyard going into administration and being nationalised by the Scottish Government.[18][19]

A report produced after nationalisation indicated that Glen Sannox should be handed over to Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) in the last quarter of 2021 and that completing the two ferries was likely to increase the total cost to over £207 million.[20] In April 2020, Ferguson Marine contracted with International Contract Engineering, a marine design consultant, to revise the design and outfitting of Glen Sannox in advance of her eventual delivery.[21]

MV Glen Sannox back at Ferguson Marine after drydock work

On 10 August 2020, tugs moved Glen Sannox to the Garvel dry dock in Greenock for remedial work including replacement of the bulbous bow, paintwork repair and removal of marine growth.[22] After additional work, the ship returned to the Fergusons shipyard in Port Glasgow on 9 September 2020.[23]

In October 2022, it was announced that Glen Sannox would initially operate only on marine diesel oil, as vacuum sensors required for the LNG system were not available.[24]

Further delays to both ferries and increasing costs of £250 million, subsequently rising to £340 million by September 2022, have resulted in controversy surrounding the contract and the lack of transparency in the decision-making process.[25][26] The Scottish Government announced that key documents relating to the decision-making process had gone missing.[27]

In September 2023, a failed safety audit meant that MV Glen Sannox was further delayed: among other issues, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) insisted on the installation of additional staircases as a condition of approving a safety audit. The work means that planned sea trials of the Glen Sannox have been delayed until the first quarter of 2024, raising doubts over whether the ship will be available for the start of the 2024 summer season.[28] Meeting MCA safety regulations ultimately meant that the passenger capacity of both ferries had to be cut from a planned 1,000 to 852.[4]

Glen Sannox is being built for the Ardrossan to Brodick crossing. She was originally intended to serve as a running mate to MV Caledonian Isles on the Ardrossan–Brodick and the Ardrossan–Campbeltown crossings.[5][6] In May 2023, it was announced that Glen Sannox's sister vessel, MV Glen Rosa, would also serve the Arran route.[29] However, the two new Arran ferries will initially be operating between Troon and Brodick for the first two or three years of their career, due to the planned upgrade works for Ardrossan harbour.[30]