Cemre signs contract for two Isley ferries
Illustration of the Islay ferry (Source: CMAL)
Turkish yard Cemre has been awarded a newbuilding contract to design and build two RoRo ferries for Scotland’s state-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). Cemre had recently been named as preferred bidder for the contract.
The 95m-long vessels will have 275 lane metres of RoRo capacity for trucks on the main deck and a total of 107 cars on both main and hoistable decks. The carbon footprint will be reduced by its diesel/hybrid propulsion system.
The conceptual design of the ferries, for operation on the Islay services in Scotland, was developed by the German ferry design and engineering company naValue in cooperation with the owner’s design team for the tender process. For the design and development of the vessels, Cemre has continued cooperation with marine architect LMG Marin AS.
Delivery of the first vessel is expected by October 2024 and will enter service operate in the busiest route on the Clyde and Hebrides network following sea trials and crew familiarisation. The second vessel will follow in early 2025.
“We look forward to working with the team at Cemre and LMG Marin to deliver two new vessels for communities in Islay and Jura. The project is part of significant investment plans we have for Scotland’s ferries and harbours, supported by £580m from the Scottish Government over the next five years, “ says Kevin Hobbs, CEO, CMAL.
