Six years late, but Glen Sannox handed over at last

The crisis hit ferry’s Arran arrival is only a matter of weeks away, the only step left being her new crew undergoing familiarisation. 

It is expected she will begin carrying passengers to and from Brodick in January. 

Glen Sannox is the second largest ferry ever built for CalMac, and is known as the most complex in the fleet due to being a duel-fuel ship, and the first UK built ferry to run on liquefied natural gas. 

Fergusson Marine launched the ferry exactly seven years ago on November 21, 2017, she and sister ship Glen Rosa are four times over budget, from £97 million to over £400 million.

Major design and funding issues the ship faced have permeated the discussion for the seven years since that launch, remembered for the unfinished state the ship was in at the time.

Memories of painted on windows and political scandals are long past now, and Arran can begin to get excited about Glen Sannox’s arrival. 

The ship’s master Michael Mackinnon has now boarded the ship and raised CalMac’s flag for the first time, she is officially in CMAL and CalMac’s hands.

The Glen Rosa’s construction is proceeding more smoothly, and she is still expected to be delivered in September 2025, under 18 months after being launched.