The CalMac ferry project, built by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), a ferry operator in the Scottish islands, has once again encountered setbacks. The delivery date of the second ferry planned to be built in the project, the MV Glen Rosa, has been postponed for another nine months to 2026.
Ferguson Marine, the shipyard responsible for building the MV Glen Rosa, has confirmed that the vessel was originally scheduled for delivery at the end of September 2025 and is expected to be deployed on the Arran route alongside the first vessel, the MV Glen Sannox.
However, plans to have both ferries operational in September have fallen through. The MV Glen Rosa has now been delayed to “substantial completion” in the first quarter of 2026, with delivery expected between April and June 2026.
Due to repeated delays, the construction cost of the MV Glen Rosa has risen from £150 million to £172.5 million, with an additional £12.5 million in contingency costs, bringing the estimated maximum cost to £185 million (approximately US$249 million), which is a “huge sum” for a ferry.
Including bad debt write-offs (typically referring to the situation where a borrower fails to repay a loan on time, and after a period of debt collection, the lending institution decides to eliminate it from the books and no longer pursue repayment), the cost of the two vessels for the CalMac project will reach as high as £460 million, nearly five times the original contract price. The initial construction cost of the project was £97 million.
It is understood that the CalMac ferry project was ordered in 2015 and is the first batch of liquefied natural gas (LNG) dual-fuel powered vessels built in the UK. The vessel is 102 meters long and equipped with LNG dual-fuel engines, which can reduce carbon emissions by 25%. It can carry 852 passengers and at least 127 cars or 16 trucks.
The CalMac ferry project was undoubtedly a “hot potato” for Ferguson Marine. During the project, the two new ships were repeatedly plagued by design and construction problems and experienced a series of contract disputes, which led to a serious delay in shipbuilding progress. Ferguson Marine was also dragged down by the project to the brink of bankruptcy. In 2019, the Scottish government decided to nationalize the shipyard.
The CalMac ferry project was undoubtedly a “hot potato” for Ferguson Marine. During the project, the two new vessels were plagued by design and construction issues and a series of contractual disputes, resulting in severe delays in shipbuilding progress. Ferguson Marine was also dragged down by the project to the brink of bankruptcy. In 2019, the Scottish government decided to nationalize the shipyard.
The two ferries were originally scheduled to be delivered in 2018, but both were delayed. The first vessel, the MV Glen Sannox, was delivered in November 2024, and the delivery date of the MV Glen Rosa was tentatively scheduled for the second quarter of 2026, which was delayed by 7 and 8 years respectively. As for whether the second ferry can be delivered between April and June 2026, the person in charge of the shipyard said: “It will be reviewed again in six months and a more specific date will be determined.” This response of the shipyard means that the delivery date may change again.
It is reported that the CalMac ferry project has not only affected the shipyard, but also led to frequent changes in shipyard management. In March last year, Ferguson Marine announced the dismissal of its CEO, David Tydeman. In March this year, Graeme Thomson, former CEO of Babcock, joined Ferguson Marine as its new CEO.
It is worth noting that the “MV Glen Rosa” is the 363rd vessel built by Ferguson Marine and the last complete ship order undertaken by the shipyard. The shipyard has previously missed two shipbuilding contracts.
Public information shows that Ferguson Marine was established in 1903 and has a development history of 120 years. The completion and delivery of the “MV Glen Rosa” ferry is the shipyard’s most important production task at present.