SNP ferry scheme suffers fresh blow after rain causes ship to flood
The SNP's disastrous ferry-replacement programme suffered another blow after a vessel that was already six years behind schedule flooded.
The MV Glen Rosa, which is running £100m over budget, filled with rainwater after the funnels were removed at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.
It is understood that engineers removed the smokestacks to allow the installation of the ferry's engines, with one of the tarpaulins used to cover the holes created coming loose.
Sudden heavy rainfall subsequently saw water pour into the ship, under construction for ferry operator CalMac, before the exposed exhaust vent could be covered again.
Hugh McKenzie, the operations manager at Ferguson Marine, said the Glen Rosa had 'experienced some internal water ingress' during heavy rainfall at the end of last month.
He said: 'The affected area has been dried out and thoroughly inspected. No damage or lasting impact was identified, and the incident has not resulted in any further issues.'
Before the flooding, Mr McKenzie said that the removal of the funnels was a 'critical step' in the installation of the ferry's main and auxiliary engines, and had been 'meticulously planned for as part of the build schedule'.
The latest setback comes less than a month after Ferguson Marine said the Glen Rosa would miss its much-revised delivery date of September by up to nine months.
The shipbuilder said it now expected the vessel to be 'substantially complete' only in the first quarter of next year, with delivery between April and June.
Ferguson Marine also revealed that the cost of the Glen Rosa had jumped by a further £35m, meaning that it and the Glen Sannox will come in at more than £460m including written-off loans – more than four and a half times the original contract price.
Taking into account the £252m spent on keeping ageing vessels in service to cover for the delays, the overall bill is more than £700m, CalMac has stated.
Both new vessels were ordered for CalMac's busiest route, linking the Isle of Arran with the Scottish mainland.
Ferguson Marine is desperate for work after Caledonian Maritime, which procures vessels for CalMac and reports to Scotland's transport minister, awarded a deal for seven smaller electric ferries to a Polish firm.
Despite the failures and upheaval, the SNP last month awarded CalMac a £3.9bn deal to run ferries to the Hebrides for a further decade without the contract being put out to tender.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
SNP ferry scheme suffers fresh blow after rain causes ship to flood
The SNP's disastrous ferry-replacement programme suffered another blow after a vessel that was already six years behind schedule flooded. The MV Glen Rosa, which is running £100m over budget, filled with rainwater after the funnels were removed at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow. It is understood that engineers removed the smokestacks to allow the installation of the ferry's engines, with one of the tarpaulins used to cover the holes created coming loose. Sudden heavy rainfall subsequently saw water pour into the ship, under construction for ferry operator CalMac, before the exposed exhaust vent could be covered again. Hugh McKenzie, the operations manager at Ferguson Marine, said the Glen Rosa had 'experienced some internal water ingress' during heavy rainfall at the end of last month. He said: 'The affected area has been dried out and thoroughly inspected. No damage or lasting impact was identified, and the incident has not resulted in any further issues.' Before the flooding, Mr McKenzie said that the removal of the funnels was a 'critical step' in the installation of the ferry's main and auxiliary engines, and had been 'meticulously planned for as part of the build schedule'. The latest setback comes less than a month after Ferguson Marine said the Glen Rosa would miss its much-revised delivery date of September by up to nine months. The shipbuilder said it now expected the vessel to be 'substantially complete' only in the first quarter of next year, with delivery between April and June. Ferguson Marine also revealed that the cost of the Glen Rosa had jumped by a further £35m, meaning that it and the Glen Sannox will come in at more than £460m including written-off loans – more than four and a half times the original contract price. Taking into account the £252m spent on keeping ageing vessels in service to cover for the delays, the overall bill is more than £700m, CalMac has stated. Both new vessels were ordered for CalMac's busiest route, linking the Isle of Arran with the Scottish mainland. Ferguson Marine is desperate for work after Caledonian Maritime, which procures vessels for CalMac and reports to Scotland's transport minister, awarded a deal for seven smaller electric ferries to a Polish firm. Despite the failures and upheaval, the SNP last month awarded CalMac a £3.9bn deal to run ferries to the Hebrides for a further decade without the contract being put out to tender. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Christie & Co appointed to list Banchory Lodge Hotel for $4.74m
Business property adviser Christie & Co is facilitating the sale of Banchory Lodge Hotel, a hospitality destination in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The property, which is on the market for £3.5m ($4.74m), encompasses 28 boutique ensuite bedrooms, each featuring contemporary Scottish interiors. Banchory Lodge Hotel is nestled within 7.5 acres of private grounds and offers a private lodge that provides six en-suite bedrooms, a lounge, and a dining room. This space is particularly suited for private parties interested in golfing activities that require exclusivity. Over the years, the Georgian estate has been maintained and updated to provide a destination for both leisure and corporate guests. The property has also established itself as a location for weddings and events. The hotel's amenities include a restaurant and bar, a 'sitooterie' with a large, covered terrace, cabins, and an outdoor kitchen. It caters to a diverse clientele, from those engaging in outdoor activities such as fishing, golfing, and cycling, to guests exploring the landscapes of Royal Deeside. Christie & Co Hotels director Gary Witham is overseeing the sale process. Gary Witham said: 'Banchory Lodge offers a modern, stylish hotel business with many different business strands. The appeal of the beautiful riverside grounds and 'sitooterie' makes this a must-visit for the region.' The announcement of Banchory Lodge Hotel's sale follows Christie & Co's recent facilitation of the Bournemouth West Cliff Hotel & Spa sale, highlighting the company's active role in the UK's hotel property market. "Christie & Co appointed to list Banchory Lodge Hotel for $4.74m" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
A NATO member U-turned on buying Black Hawks, suggesting Russia's war shows they aren't the best weapons to focus on
NATO member Poland has put on hold plans to buy 32 Black Hawk helicopters. It suggested that Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows they're not the right weapon to focus on. It's not abandoned helicopters, but they have proven vulnerable in Ukraine. NATO member Poland has postponed its purchase of 32 S-70i Black Hawk helicopters, with military officials there suggesting the way Russia is fighting in Ukraine shows they're not the right equipment for it to focus on. General Wieslaw Kukula, the Polish armed forces chief of staff, said at a Friday press conference that "we have decided to change the priorities of the helicopter programs" in order to "better adapt to the challenges of future warfare," Reuters reported. Poland's deputy defense minister, Pawel Bejda, said on X that his country's military, pilots, and experts were analyzing the geopolitical situation, as well as "the war in Ukraine" and what Russia is buying and equipping its military with. Poland shares a land border with Ukraine. Grzegorz Polak, a spokesman for Poland's Armament Agency, which buys equipment for its military, told Reuters that its priorities needed "some correction" and that it might be necessary to buy other equipment instead of the helicopters, "such as drones, or tanks, or some kind of communication." He also told Polish outlet Defence24 that the armed force's priorities have changed amid evolving threats. Poland, like other European countries, has warned that Russia could attack elsewhere on the continent. Its prime minister, Donald Tusk, warned in March that Russia's big military investments suggest it's readying for a conflict with someone bigger than Ukraine in the next three to four years. Poland is already the highest spender on defense in NATO, as a proportion of its GDP, and has been a major ally of Ukraine throughout the invasion. Helicopters have played a role in Russia's invasion, with both sides using them to counter drones, offer air support, and launch attacks. They were particularly effective for Ukraine against Russia's attempts to seize a key airfield shortly after the invasion began in February 2022, and for Russia during Ukraine's 2023 counteroffensive. But they have also proved vulnerable. The proliferation of air defenses has meant that they, like other aircraft, have had to hang back from frontline fighting more than in past conflicts, making them far less useful. Ukraine's success at taking down Russia's Ka-52 helicopters in 2023 meant Russia started using them less. Many were hit by US-provided M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS. Reports suggest that Russia lost more than 100 helicopters in the first two years of the war. Ukraine has also destroyed some Russian helicopters at bases far from the front lines. Even so, losses could have been higher. Mark Hertling, a former commander of United States Army Europe, told BI in January that Russia has been "very poor" in the way it used helicopters and other air assets, but also that Ukraine's air-defense shortages have protected them. Andrew Curtis, an independent defence and security researcher who spent 35 years as a UK Royal Air Force officer, told BI last year that one lesson Western countries could take from the war is "about the vulnerability of helicopters in the modern battlefield where hiding and seeking is not a child's game, it's a matter of life and death." The S-70i is a variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk made by PZL Mielec, a Polish company owned by the US's Lockheed Martin. Poland's plan to buy them began in 2023, under a previous government. The aim was for the helicopters to be used for combat and logistics, and to work with AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters ordered from the US. Bejda, the deputy defense minister, said the latest move did not involve terminating a contract, as one was never signed. But it has still led to some domestic issues. Mariusz Blaszczak, Poland's former defense minister, described the decision as a disgrace in a post on X, saying it would lead to job losses, delays in replacing the country's helicopter fleet, and a loss of interoperability because Poland's military already uses some Black Hawks. The postponement comes after Poland spent years investing in helicopter technology, including ordering 96 Apache Guardians in a deal signed last year, and 32 Leonardo AW149s in a deal signed in 2022. Bejda said Poland would still prioritize some helicopters, including training and combat helicopters, a heavy transport helicopter, and search and rescue helicopters. But the government, which took office at the end of 2023, clearly views increasing the fleet as less important than investing in other military assets. The war in Ukraine has led Western countries to boost their own defense spending and to change their priorities, including through buying more air defenses and drones, investing more in tanks, and even bringing back old types of training like trench warfare. Read the original article on Business Insider
