DELAYED plans to replace CalMac’s ageing ferry fleet have progressed as the Scottish Government announced it will take bids for a seven-boat contract.

Previous plans were pushed back to save money but the Transport Secretary on Tuesday confirmed that CMAL, the body which oversees the award of public contracts for the state-owned ferry service, will take bids to build the new electric boats.

It has previously been reported that bosses at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow were hopeful they would win the contract, which would secure a future for the site once it completes the severely delayed and overbudget Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferries.

However, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said that giving the award to Ferguson Marine would introduce "substantial risks and uncertainties", and apparently ruled it out.

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The contract comes as phase one of the small vessels replacement programme (SVRP).

The fleet serves the following routes:

  • Colintraive - Rhubodach (Bute)
  • Lochaline - Fishnish (Mull)
  • Tarbert (Loch Fyne) - Portavadie (Peninsula)
  • Iona – Fionnphort (Mull)
  • Sconser – Raasay (Raasay)
  • Tobermory - Kilchoan (Mull)
  • Tayinloan - Gigha (Gigha)

The replacement programme is estimated to cost around £175 million, according to Transport Scotland, some of which will also be spent on port improvements and shore power upgrades.

Companies will be invited to bid for the contract around September 2024 and the Government said it hoped the contract will be awarded in March 2025.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop (above) said the replacement of vessels on the seven routes listed above would have knock-on “benefits to two other routes from the redeployment of existing vessels”.

These are the Largs to Cumbrae route and the Oban to Lismore route.

Hyslop added: “These nine routes currently serve around 30% of the car and passenger carryings on the Clyde and Hebrides network.

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“The new vessels will also be electric, helping us to deliver a significant improvement in emissions and local air quality and taking us towards a lower carbon ferry network.”

CMAL chief executive officer Kevin Hobbs said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to progress the SVRP. What matters for us is being able to move forward with our plans to improve the fleet with new vessels.

"This is great news for island communities, and we look forward to delivering the all-electric lifeline vessels over the coming years.”

In a separate development on Tuesday, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes announced a £14.2m funding package to secure the future of the troubled Ferguson Marine shipyard.

She also said that talks with defence giant BAE Systems were in their final stages to award the yard more work on the company’s Type 36 Frigate programme.