The extensive upgrade of berthing at Kennacraig is well under way - with construction progressing on schedule.
The first phase to upgrade the Kintyre port, owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), has concentrated on the main berth to accommodate the arrival of MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal.
This includes dredging and the installation of new combi-piled walls, aimed at widening and deepening the berth pockets and approach at Kennacraig’s south berth, which is anticipated to finish later this year.
Tony Fry, construction director of George Leslie, the civil engineering firm contracted to deliver the project, said: "We are pleased with the significant strides made at Kennacraig.
“The quay wall piling process is under way, with drilling operations progressing on programme despite challenging conditions.
“As part of this phase, our attention will also be on upgrading or replacing quay fenders and mooring systems on the south berth, alongside implementing electrical enhancements to support future shore power charging capabilities.”
He added: "We are also pleased to have the works on the other two sites within this project commencing as programmed.
“At Port Askaig on Islay, final preparation work for drilling is under way and at Colonsay the dredging equipment has been mobilised to the site."
The MV Isle of Islay was launched at Cemre Shipyard in Turkey on Saturday March 16 and is scheduled for delivery in October 2024.
Her sister vessel, The MV Loch Indaal, is due to be launched in June this year.
The vessels will have capacity for up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles.
It will provide a combined 40 per cent increase in vehicle and freight capacity on the Islay routes, bolstering the overall resilience of the wider fleet.
Ramsay Muirhead, director of port infrastructure at CMAL, said: “Work is progressing well at Kennacraig. Port enabling works are a key part of the project in bringing two new vessels to Islay and we look forward to celebrating their arrival with the community later this year.”
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