Ferry delivery from Turkey is six years faster than Clyde shipyard

The winter time journey from Turkey, traversing the length of the Mediterranean sea, through the Straits of Gibraltar, round Portugal and Spain to the Bay of Biscay, past Normandy and Land’s End and then up the west coast of Britain, proved eventful for the Isle of Islay, with storms and high seas, and included the successful rescue of a person in the water off the coast of Morocco. The journey, expected to take two weeks, took just over a month.

CalMac CEO Duncan Mackison said: “The crew, who have been putting the vessel through her paces on an epic voyage across the Mediterranean and North Atlantic in the depths of winter, are delighted to have reached Scotland.

“They deserve massive credit for the job they have done in sailing home during treacherous weather and sea conditions and being involved in a CalMac first in saving a life at sea off the coast of Morocco.

“Over the next few weeks, we’ll finalise preparations to get the vessel ready to enter passenger service for Islay and Jura.”

It is hoped that the Isle of Islay coming into service will take some of the strain off the wider CalMac fleet. She can carry up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles.

Cabinet secretary for transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “The MV Isle of Islay will improve capacity and reliability on the Islay route, as well as enhance the resilience of the CalMac major vessel fleet. Full focus is now on preparing the vessel to enter service as soon as possible for the people and economy of Islay.”