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| Delayed island ferry Glen Sannox begins sailings | Delayed island ferry Glen Sannox begins sailings |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| MV Glen Sannox sets sail from Troon to Arran | MV Glen Sannox sets sail from Troon to Arran |
| The ship at the centre of Scotland's long-running ferries saga has started carrying passengers between the Scottish mainland and the island of Arran. | The ship at the centre of Scotland's long-running ferries saga has started carrying passengers between the Scottish mainland and the island of Arran. |
| MV Glen Sannox - which was meant to be delivered almost seven years ago - is the first new large vessel to join the UK's largest ferry fleet in nearly a decade. | MV Glen Sannox - which was meant to be delivered almost seven years ago - is the first new large vessel to join the UK's largest ferry fleet in nearly a decade. |
| It made its first scheduled journey between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick on Arran before dawn. | It made its first scheduled journey between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick on Arran before dawn. |
| The vessel will make three return sailings on the route each day, with the journey lasting 75 minutes. | The vessel will make three return sailings on the route each day, with the journey lasting 75 minutes. |
| It had completed a return test sailing on the route from the Scottish mainland to Arran on Sunday. | It had completed a return test sailing on the route from the Scottish mainland to Arran on Sunday. |
| Live coverage: Glen Sannox makes first official sailing | Live coverage: Glen Sannox makes first official sailing |
| Why was Glen Sannox so hard to build? | Why was Glen Sannox so hard to build? |
| With a capacity for 127 cars and 852 passengers, Glen Sannox will help relieve pressures on the state-owned operator which has struggled in recent years to maintain services with ageing and increasingly unreliable vessels. | With a capacity for 127 cars and 852 passengers, Glen Sannox will help relieve pressures on the state-owned operator which has struggled in recent years to maintain services with ageing and increasingly unreliable vessels. |
| Glen Sannox made its first scheduled journey to Arran before dawn. | |
| The orders for the dual-fuel ships Glen Sannox and its sister vessel Glen Rosa, were placed with the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow nearly a decade ago. | The orders for the dual-fuel ships Glen Sannox and its sister vessel Glen Rosa, were placed with the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow nearly a decade ago. |
| But acrimonious disputes over the design challenges and claims for extra costs saw the shipyard fall into administration and nationalised in 2019. | But acrimonious disputes over the design challenges and claims for extra costs saw the shipyard fall into administration and nationalised in 2019. |
| The ships have ended up costing more than four times the £97m contract price and sparked arguably the longest running political row of the devolution era. | The ships have ended up costing more than four times the £97m contract price and sparked arguably the longest running political row of the devolution era. |
| CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said staff had worked hard to complete sea trials and crew familiarisation for the first gas-powered ferry built in the UK. | CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said staff had worked hard to complete sea trials and crew familiarisation for the first gas-powered ferry built in the UK. |
| He told BBC Scotland News that the successful first sailing was a "big sigh of relief" and "good news for lots of different people". | He told BBC Scotland News that the successful first sailing was a "big sigh of relief" and "good news for lots of different people". |
| "We're delighted that she's in the condition that she is," he added. | "We're delighted that she's in the condition that she is," he added. |
| Mr Mackison said Glen Sannox would be a "great benefit" to the island of Arran because it is a modern vessel that can sail in more challenging conditions. | Mr Mackison said Glen Sannox would be a "great benefit" to the island of Arran because it is a modern vessel that can sail in more challenging conditions. |
| A look on board the MV Glen Sannox | |
| Named after an Arran beauty spot, Glen Sannox will make three return sailings from Troon to the island's main town of Brodick each day. | Named after an Arran beauty spot, Glen Sannox will make three return sailings from Troon to the island's main town of Brodick each day. |
| An identical vessel, Glen Rosa - still under construction at the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow - is due to join it on the route at the end of the year, although it was reported at the weekend that a new delay will be announced shortly., external | An identical vessel, Glen Rosa - still under construction at the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow - is due to join it on the route at the end of the year, although it was reported at the weekend that a new delay will be announced shortly., external |
| On Sunday Glen Sannox carried its first passengers and vehicles when it was unexpectedly switched for the scheduled vessel for one return sailing, in a test run ahead of Monday's full timetable. | On Sunday Glen Sannox carried its first passengers and vehicles when it was unexpectedly switched for the scheduled vessel for one return sailing, in a test run ahead of Monday's full timetable. |
| Mr Mackison said: "A massive effort has gone into getting MV Glen Sannox to this stage, and everyone at CalMac is excited to have her in the fleet and serving Arran." | Mr Mackison said: "A massive effort has gone into getting MV Glen Sannox to this stage, and everyone at CalMac is excited to have her in the fleet and serving Arran." |
| For residents on the island the arrival of the new ship should bring relief after years of transport uncertainty. | For residents on the island the arrival of the new ship should bring relief after years of transport uncertainty. |
| Mr Mackison added: "This new generation of ships are more powerful and have more sophisticated thrusters which enables them to get along under more challenging conditions and stronger winds." | Mr Mackison added: "This new generation of ships are more powerful and have more sophisticated thrusters which enables them to get along under more challenging conditions and stronger winds." |
| Mike Dobson, from Arran Cancer Support, says the uncertainty has taken a toll on the mental health of those needing regular mainland medical treatment | Mike Dobson, from Arran Cancer Support, says the uncertainty has taken a toll on the mental health of those needing regular mainland medical treatment |
| Mike Dobson, chairman of Arran Cancer Support, said it had been particularly difficult for those needing hospital treatment on the mainland. | Mike Dobson, chairman of Arran Cancer Support, said it had been particularly difficult for those needing hospital treatment on the mainland. |
| "An ageing ferry fleet with lots of technical or weather-related problems has made it more difficult for people to feel that they are going to get there," he told BBC News. | "An ageing ferry fleet with lots of technical or weather-related problems has made it more difficult for people to feel that they are going to get there," he told BBC News. |
| "It's meant more cancellations of appointments and that bears a certain weight on people and affects their mental health." | "It's meant more cancellations of appointments and that bears a certain weight on people and affects their mental health." |
| Sheila Gilmore, from Visit Arran, said businesses had also been badly affected, but she was optimistic visitor numbers will now start to recover. | Sheila Gilmore, from Visit Arran, said businesses had also been badly affected, but she was optimistic visitor numbers will now start to recover. |
| "We are very hopeful, it's been a long struggle to get here but we have to look forward and put what is in the past behind us," she said. | "We are very hopeful, it's been a long struggle to get here but we have to look forward and put what is in the past behind us," she said. |
| Scotland's entire west coast ferry network should also benefit as the average age of the fleet falls and new capacity allows vessels to be redeployed. | Scotland's entire west coast ferry network should also benefit as the average age of the fleet falls and new capacity allows vessels to be redeployed. |
| For SNP politicians there will be hope the arrival of Glen Sannox heralds the end of Scotland's long-running ferries controversy, although reports of new delays for Glen Rosa mean that may be premature. | For SNP politicians there will be hope the arrival of Glen Sannox heralds the end of Scotland's long-running ferries controversy, although reports of new delays for Glen Rosa mean that may be premature. |
| The contract to build the two ships was awarded to Ferguson's in 2015, a year after it went bust. | The contract to build the two ships was awarded to Ferguson's in 2015, a year after it went bust. |
| It was rescued, just before Scotland's 2014 independence referendum, by an investment firm led by Jim McColl, an economic adviser to the then First Minister Alex Salmond. | It was rescued, just before Scotland's 2014 independence referendum, by an investment firm led by Jim McColl, an economic adviser to the then First Minister Alex Salmond. |
| Cars board after MV Glen Sannox arrives at Brodick on the Isle of Arran | |
| While a decade of decline had left the Clyde's last commercial shipyard with just 76 staff when it went into administration, the businessman delivered millions of pounds of investment and rapid expansion. | While a decade of decline had left the Clyde's last commercial shipyard with just 76 staff when it went into administration, the businessman delivered millions of pounds of investment and rapid expansion. |
| But construction of the dual-fuel ships soon faltered as the firm grappled with complex design challenges while trying to hit production milestones and modernising run-down facilities. | But construction of the dual-fuel ships soon faltered as the firm grappled with complex design challenges while trying to hit production milestones and modernising run-down facilities. |
| Claims for extra costs led to a bitter standoff between the yard's management and state-owned ferries procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). | Claims for extra costs led to a bitter standoff between the yard's management and state-owned ferries procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL). |
| Reporting Scotland | |
| Special programme on the the launch of Glen Sannox | |
| Monday January 13 at 18:30 | |
| Glen Sannox was launched by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon on a blustery day in November 2017, but behind the scenes a bigger political storm was brewing. | Glen Sannox was launched by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon on a blustery day in November 2017, but behind the scenes a bigger political storm was brewing. |
| It later emerged the ship was far from finished - windows were painted on, temporary funnels were made of plywood and, more importantly, huge amounts of engineering and electrical work were still required inside. | It later emerged the ship was far from finished - windows were painted on, temporary funnels were made of plywood and, more importantly, huge amounts of engineering and electrical work were still required inside. |
| The yard's managers blamed CMAL, claiming a poorly-developed concept design, late decision-making and interference had led to unforeseen complications. | The yard's managers blamed CMAL, claiming a poorly-developed concept design, late decision-making and interference had led to unforeseen complications. |
| CMAL said the firm had simply underestimated the complexity of the task entrusted to it and made poor management decisions. | CMAL said the firm had simply underestimated the complexity of the task entrusted to it and made poor management decisions. |
| CalMac chief executive Duncan Mackison said the first sailing was a "sigh of relief" | |
| The deadlock eventually saw Ferguson's run out of money and fall back into administration in 2019, with the shipyard nationalised, saving 350 jobs. | The deadlock eventually saw Ferguson's run out of money and fall back into administration in 2019, with the shipyard nationalised, saving 350 jobs. |
| Problems continued under new "turnaround director" Tim Hair who was paid nearly £2m before a permanent chief executive was appointed in 2022. | Problems continued under new "turnaround director" Tim Hair who was paid nearly £2m before a permanent chief executive was appointed in 2022. |
| Opposition parties, meanwhile, claimed the crisis had its roots in incompetence by Scottish ministers - which they denied. | Opposition parties, meanwhile, claimed the crisis had its roots in incompetence by Scottish ministers - which they denied. |
| Under new boss David Tydeman, the ships' construction eventually made progress but with more huge cost increases and repeated delays. | Under new boss David Tydeman, the ships' construction eventually made progress but with more huge cost increases and repeated delays. |
| He was sacked by the Ferguson board last March, and the ship was finally delivered to CMAL, after several more short delays, in November. | He was sacked by the Ferguson board last March, and the ship was finally delivered to CMAL, after several more short delays, in November. |
| Glen Sannox was launched with much fanfare in 2017, but the ship was far from finished | Glen Sannox was launched with much fanfare in 2017, but the ship was far from finished |
| Glen Sannox is the first dual fuel ferry built in the UK capable of running on both marine gas oil (MGO), a form of diesel, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). | Glen Sannox is the first dual fuel ferry built in the UK capable of running on both marine gas oil (MGO), a form of diesel, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). |
| When running on gas the ship's engines are quieter and emit far lower levels of exhaust pollutants known as NOx and SOx. | When running on gas the ship's engines are quieter and emit far lower levels of exhaust pollutants known as NOx and SOx. |
| The climate change credentials of LNG, however, are questionable as the engines also release methane, which is a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2. | The climate change credentials of LNG, however, are questionable as the engines also release methane, which is a greenhouse gas far more potent than CO2. |
| The LNG fuel also has to be imported from Qatar and trucked up to Scotland from a terminal in Kent. | The LNG fuel also has to be imported from Qatar and trucked up to Scotland from a terminal in Kent. |
| 'Green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship | 'Green' ferry emits more CO2 than old diesel ship |
| Future of Ardrossan harbour still in limbo | Future of Ardrossan harbour still in limbo |
| Despite being a high-sided vessel Glen Sannox is highly manoeuvrable and should be better able to cope with stormy weather conditions off Scotland's west coast. | Despite being a high-sided vessel Glen Sannox is highly manoeuvrable and should be better able to cope with stormy weather conditions off Scotland's west coast. |
| But the size of the ship means it is currently unable to berth at Ardrossan, the closest mainland port to Arran, unless agreement is reached on a multi-million harbour redevelopment. | But the size of the ship means it is currently unable to berth at Ardrossan, the closest mainland port to Arran, unless agreement is reached on a multi-million harbour redevelopment. |
| In addition to Glen Rosa, four other large CalMac ships are being built by a large shipyard in Turkey - though they are also delayed, by about six months. | In addition to Glen Rosa, four other large CalMac ships are being built by a large shipyard in Turkey - though they are also delayed, by about six months. |
| The first of those ships, MV Isle of Islay, should be delivered in the spring, with the others following on about four months apart. | The first of those ships, MV Isle of Islay, should be delivered in the spring, with the others following on about four months apart. |