CalMac's first Turkish-built ferry gets new delivery date

The Isle of Islay will operate on the Kennacraig to Islay route

The first Turkish-built Calmac ferry, which was due to be delivered on 30 September, will be handed to its new owners in November.

MV Isle of Islay is one of four new ferries being built for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) for Scotland's west coast routes by the Cemre shipyard at Yalova in Turkey.

Its initial delivery date of October 2024 was pushed back by a series of delays - the latest of which had been a delay in completing sea trials.

The Cemre yard has informed the Scottish government that the trials have now been completed.

The MV Isle of Islay will operate on the Kennacraig to Islay route.

It will be joined on Scotland's west coast routes by Turkish-built MV Loch Indaal, MV Lochmor and MV Claymore at six-month intervals after its delivery.

After the ferry is handed over to CMAL it will undergo several weeks of crew familiarisation and berthing trials in Scotland.

It is unlikely to enter service with CalMac before the new year.