The beleaguered CalMac ferry Glen Rosa has been hit by a fresh six-month delay, with the vessel now requiring significant repairs before it can even enter service. The state-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard has confirmed the vessel will not be delivered until at least the end of 2026.
Another Setback in a Troubled Project
This latest hold-up adds to a nine-month delay announced just in May of this year, which had already pushed the estimated cost for the Glen Rosa alone from £150 million to £185 million. The ferry and its sister ship, Glen Sannox, were originally ordered in 2015 for a fixed price of £97 million, with delivery promised for 2018.
Ferguson Marine, which collapsed and was nationalised in 2019, stated the new delay is necessary to address "deterioration" of the hull coating and "corrosion" on the tubes that house the propeller shafts. The yard's chief executive, Graeme Thomson, described the work as "essential" for meeting safety standards, while offering "heartfelt apologies for the disruption."
Political Fury and Broken Promises
The announcement has sparked fierce political criticism, particularly as it was made after MSPs had begun their festive recess. Scottish Tory transport spokesman Sue Webber lambasted the Scottish Government, accusing the SNP of "incompetence" and saying islanders had been "betrayed at every turn."
Webber compared the news to receiving a "lump of coal in their stocking this Christmas" for reliant island communities. She also attacked the timing as "scandalous," arguing it prevented MSPs from holding ministers to account in parliament immediately.
This criticism is compounded by the fact that, as recently as August, then-First Minister John Swinney confidently predicted the Glen Rosa would be "in service" and carrying passengers before next spring's Holyrood election.
Soaring Costs and Apologies
The financial scale of the project's failure is now monumental. The final cost to taxpayers for the two ferries, Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox, is estimated to be around £460 million—a staggering increase from the original £97 million contract.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes issued an apology, stating: "I apologise to those affected, particularly island communities who depend on ferries and whose lives and livelihoods are impacted by this." Meanwhile, Ferguson Marine's CEO Graeme Thomson said he was determined to "minimise any further delays" on the crucial vessel.
The ongoing saga of the Glen Rosa continues to highlight profound issues in Scottish maritime procurement, leaving islanders waiting indefinitely for the lifeline services they were promised years ago.
