MV Isle of Islay enters service to stabilize "critical" ferry shortage

MV Isle of Islay will carry passengers for the first time on the 12.30pm sailing from Port Askaig, Islay, to Kennacraig in Kintyre. She will then complete a sailing from the mainland back to the island later that afternoon.

Her entry into service comes at a critical time for the ferry provider, which is facing an unprecedented shortage. Yesterday, 10 vessels were out of service. Five in dry dock for annual overhaul and five broken down. 

Yesterday it was feared she would not make it to the fleet before April, but she has made it at the 11th hour. Her delivery came 18 months late, due mostly to staffing shortages in Turkey where she was built. 

Since arriving in Scotland, the MV Isle of Islay has been carrying out berthing trials across the ferry network and has undergone snagging works.

Her sea trials did not go off without a hitch - issues were found in her power system, and the trials took longer than hoped. But those issues have now been addressed.

MV Isle of Islay will increase capacity to and from Islay by 40 per cent.

The first of four being built for the CalMac fleet by the Cemre shipyard in Turkey, she can carry 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles.