New delay for Turkish-built CalMac ferry MV Isle of Islay

Government-owned ferries agency CMAL said it hoped MV Isle of Islay would now be delivered before Christmas

The first of four new CalMac ferries being built in Turkey has been delayed again.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) said it still hoped to take delivery of MV Isle of Islay before Christmas but warned this would be a "challenge".

CMAL had previously told MSPs it expected the ship to be handed over in November, before making the two-week voyage to Scotland.

The government-owned ferries agency says a number of issues are still being addressed before the ferry can be signed off by UK regulators.

A passenger area in the ship's interior

MV Isle of Islay, which will will operate on the Kennacraig to Islay route, is the first of four 95m-long ferries being built for the CalMac fleet at the Turkish Cemre shipyard.

When the contract was awarded it was due for delivery in October last year, but construction has been hit by a series of delays which CMAL says were due to supply chain issues and labour shortages.

In an update letter to Holyrood's net zero, energy and transport committee, CMAL said the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carried out a final survey in the last week of October, and the shipyard is addressing issues that were raised.

MCA inspectors are due to carry out another final survey on 8 December.

The update letter said: "If all completion activities go smoothly, the shipyard is targeting delivery of MV Isle of Islay prior to the Christmas period.

"This will be a challenge but CMAL, CalMac, Cemre and the regulatory authorities are all working hard and collaboratively towards reaching this target date for vessel delivery just before the Christmas holidays."

The journey to Scotland will involve a refuelling stop at Gibraltar and a journey across the Bay of Biscay.

After arriving in Scotland, CalMac will carry out crew familiarisation and berthing trials at various ports before the ship enters service.

Work is continuing at the Cemre shipyard on MV Loch Indaal - also destined for the Islay route - and two other ferries MV Lochmor and MV Claymore will eventually serve the Western Isles.

CMAL said costs remained "on budget".