Anchor fault further delays return of Scottish ferry Glen Sannox

The UK-flagged ferry Glen Sannox, out of service for over three months for repairs at Cammell Laird in Merseyside, was delayed further last week after a damaged bearing was discovered in the anchor system. Its return to service will now be pushed back another four days until later this week, to make room for additional technical inspections.

The 1273-dwt dual-fuel vessel, operated by CalMac, entered the yard in early November for annual maintenance and warranty works but has remained out of service for more than three months following additional structural modifications and repair requirements.

CalMac said inspections uncovered a damaged bearing within the vessel’s anchor handling system during overhaul of the starboard windlass. A company spokesperson said: “In recent testing, a damaged bearing was identified, and further inspection revealed the need to replace multiple components on the assembly.”

The repairs follow earlier steel strengthening work undertaken to address vibration issues previously linked to cracking near the vessel’s stern structure.

To accelerate completion, Ferguson Marine has agreed to supply replacement components from the UK-flagged sister vessel Glen Rosa, avoiding delays associated with manufacturer delivery. CEO Graeme Thomson said: “To get Glen Sannox back into service sooner, we have offered to provide parts from Glen Rosa. This will speed up repairs and will have no impact on the cost and delivery timeline for Glen Rosa.”
CalMac now expects Glen Sannox to resume operations on the Arran route from Friday, March 6.