The £1.2bn project hoping to bring cruise ship building back to Scotland
Cruise ship building could return to the Clyde with the announcement of plans for a £1.2 billion residential vessel due to launch in 2028.
The Scottish river was once home to more than 200 shipyards that produced such ocean-going icons as Cunard's Queen Mary and the QE2.
Now a company called Clydebuilt, which is marketing suites costing up to £41 million on a ship named Dark Island, aims to create 3,000 jobs by basing construction on the waterway that connects Glasgow to the sea.
After nine years working on the project, managing director Tommy McGinn says the all-balcony ship is 'production ready'. He is in talks with three yards, with 'one in particular quite keen'.
McGinn, 66, was inspired by once seeing the Queen Mary 2 liner, which entered service in 2004, arrive in Greenock. 'I'm looking at it and I'm thinking, why on Earth is a Cunard flagship being built in France and not on the Clyde? That was the catalyst that brought us to where we are today, by looking at that ship and wondering, why not?
'Unemployment on the west coast of Scotland is so horrendous that something's got to be done. I think shipbuilding is the way to go – but with new technology and modern designs.'
Investors are already on board but, before confirming the order, McGinn wants to sell 60 per cent of the 236 suites to ultra-wealthy individuals and major corporations. The smallest accommodation, Glencoe, starts at £4.2 million for the expected 50-year life of the ship, plus a £1,150-a-night service charge.
At the top end of the scale, the £41 million Hebridean suite carries a hefty £3,182-a-night fee, based on four people sharing.
What do you get for that? The 748ft-long Dark Island – a name said to evoke the beauty of the Outer Hebrides – will offer three restaurants and a 10-storey atrium plus theatre, spa, gym, library and pool.
The maiden voyage for up to 724 passengers has been pencilled in as a three-year world cruise following the routes of explorers such as Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Francis Drake and James Cook.
Of the many residential ships currently being touted, only two have been launched: the multi-millionaires' floating home, The World, and the much more affordable Villa Vie Odyssey, which overcame delays and teething problems to set sail from Belfast on its initial three-and-a-half-year global voyage, which has now reached Argentina.
Reaction to McGinn's plans has been mixed, with sceptics questioning if Dark Island will ever be built, or even if the whole project is a flight of fancy.
He told The Telegraph: 'You always get cynics but I've never asked someone to do what I'm not willing to do myself. We've taken the risk and ploughed our own money into it. We'll have a big push now to sell the suites. We need as much assistance as possible to get this built on the Clyde.'
As to whether he would approach the Scottish government for financial aid, McGinn answered: 'No, it's got to be self-financed, not depending on subsidies, not depending on handouts. That's the way we're trying to go with this.'
McGinn and his five-strong management team have already been approached by up to 30 suppliers, as well as potential workers and crew – including captains – though he cautioned: 'We're not promising jobs to anybody until we're ready.'
Although ferries and frigates are still built on the Clyde, the multi-billion-pound cruise industry has moved construction to yards in Europe.
McGinn said: 'I spoke to someone high up in Carnival Corporation [owners of Cunard] about six years ago who said there was no way they would consider getting any other vessels built in Scotland. So why not do it ourselves?'
Computer-generated renderings of the vessel have been produced in collaboration with London-based superyacht designer Evan Marshall. 'The goal was to create a spectacular cruise ship harking back to the elegance of a bygone era,' Marshall said. 'Dark Island's exterior is sleek and elegant which is a departure from the current styling trend of most cruise ships.'
Inside, designers and artists will 'integrate the essence of the Highland glens' throughout the decor, McGinn added.
Dark Island won't only look good though, he said, as it will align with UN sustainability goals to lessen its effect on the environment.
Life on board will include lectures, forums and talks by academics, while 540 crew members will attend to the guests. Itineraries will be decided in advance by a vote among suite owners, with the captain having the final say.
While applauding the prospect of the return of commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde, QM2 designer Stephen Payne questioned some of the initial designs of Dark Island. He said: 'High lifeboats, balconies close to the waterline and restricted views from the bridge all signal warning bells that will need special consideration.'
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