Latest news with #ArranmoreBlu
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
How nerves of steel secured the future for shipbuilding on the Clyde
The location though, was not Scotland (where operator Caledonian MacBrayne has grappled with an 'exceptional' series of challenges with its fleet) but the Burtonport to Arranmore – Árainn Mhór in Irish – route in Donegal. Importantly, the ferry, Arranmore Blu, was not only built in Scotland by Bute Boatbuilders opposite Port Bannatyne on the island but designed by Marine Design International Ltd (MDI) in Glasgow. Bute Boatbuilders is run by Ewen Ferguson who has more than 35 years of working in boatyards, including 20 years of constructing newbuilds and Arranmore Blu replaces Morvern, which was originally built in 1972 as part of the CalMac fleet. Bute Boatbuilders came out of a family-owned business on the island which was largely involved in refurbishment and overhauls, including for CalMac and Ferguson, and it now constructs a range of vessels that include steel and aluminium workboats, landing craft, multicats and now passenger boats. Unsurprisingly, much of his Ferguson's business in recent years has resulted from the growth of the salmon farming industry and he has built 22 boats over 20 years. Having worked on previous vessel refits and conversions for him he knew Seumas Boyle, the managing director and skipper at Arranmore Ferries and – operating his company on a small island – the two had much in common. The Arranmore Ferry, owned by Boyle's Realt Na Maidne Teoranta (Star of the Morning) Ferry Company has operated for 14 years to the little island. The Arranmore Blu, which can carry 10 cars and 97 passengers, was planned in 2020 in recognition of the increasing demands of modern transport and larger vehicles – and the need for a vessel that would offer greater capacity, comfort and safety in line with the 2020 Irish Domestic Passenger Ship Standards. 'Seamus was on the verge of signing a contract with a Turkish company when he came to meet me about this. We both decided that as we were on an island and they were on an island, we ticked a lot of the boxes for him,' says Ferguson. (Image: Ewen Ferguson and Seumas Boyle) While Boyle recalls: 'It seemed like a natural fit. We didn't even get around to signing a contract – we just shook hands on it and Ewen got started on the new boat.' During the work he and others in his team from Burtonport were given access to a Portakabin to observe the work in progress over the course of eight months. 'I can't think of another company that would let you do that,' he laughs. Simon Cormack, director of MDI had previously worked with Ferguson within the leisure, workboat and fishing industry since the inception of MDI in 2005, assuming a range of roles on a variety of projects. MDI, explains Cormack, was incorporated in 2005 to bring together three Scottish Naval Architecture firms and specialises in small vessel design, alteration and consultancy with a problem-solving attitude. 'In recent years we've developed into supporting the small vessel operations in nearshore windfarm installations and marine civil contracts across Europe including designs for this specific market and geographically we work worldwide,' he says. This is the first ship that MDI has developed to the Irish 2020 domestic passenger ship rules and the first passenger ferry Bute Boatbuilders has constructed. 'The level of design detail, traceability and certification is significantly higher in this design and build as opposed to other commercial vessels,' adds Cormack. The partnership, which involved sourcing correctly certified materials and equipment was a lot more demanding than a typical commercial project. 'The owner required simplicity in design and maintenance so developing a compliant design without excessive complexity or high maintenance equipment took thought and design and verification with the authorities,' he says.' (Image: The launch of Arranmore Blu) When the Arranmore Blu left Rothesay Harbour having completed its sea trials Seamus Boyle skippered her on the 15-hour trip to Burtonport. 'Unlike at Fergusons or other big shipyards we like to get the boat launched, start up the engines and sail it away,' says Ferguson. The final specification of the boats Bute Boatbuilders constructs can vary considerably depending on the customer and with the Arranmore Blu Ferguson says he completed some 80% of the boat, with minor fit-out and design details added by Boyle to suit his exact demands. The company employs 12 people on Bute, including three apprentices and Ferguson says that one of the aims of the company is to provide more long term-employment on Bute and while it's relatively easy to attract young people, the problem is staff retention as they are often wooed by the high wages at major companies such as BAE Systems in Glasgow. 'There are several people from the island who have gone there and while it's impossible to compete with the wages offered by companies of that size, some of them have come back because they miss the active involvement in working here.' Sheet steel for the vessels is sourced from a major European stockest and engines from major manufacturers such as Scania and Hyundai. The Arranmore Blu has been designed for hybrid electric propulsion, feasible in reducing emissions further when funds allow and while MDI has previously built fully electric vessels and the technology is proven, it doesn't yet offer a financial break even. The launch of the new ferry on the Arranmore Blu has been acknowledged as a success by all three parties involved. 'Everything was so efficient, we had no issues and people love it – down to the little details including now being able to offer tea and coffee,' says Boyle. 'The Arranmore Blu has exceeded expectations on its trials and early service,' adds Cormack. 'When creating a new design with critical criteria it's important to build in some margin to allow for unavoidable design or equipment variation driven by material or equipment availability or requests from regulators. 'In this case the project has been delivered by an owner, designer and builder that are all small businesses, which stretched everyone's resources compared to projects involving the delivery of larger vessels with larger shipyards.' At Bute Boatbuilders, Ferguson says there are normally two boats under construction at any time, with the notional price of a 19- to 22-metre landing craft being some £1.5 million to £2m, though that is subject to the specification of engines, cranes and other factors. For him, though, the greatest satisfaction is completing the sea trials of a new vessel. 'It's the satisfaction of having taken a pile of steel and turned it into something that works – delivering a boat that is sailing and doing everything you said it would do.'
The Herald Scotland
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scotch whisky sector and Women's Scottish Open in focus
He also looks at emerging markets for Scotch whisky, including Vietnam. Scott notes the Trump tariffs are 'presenting a huge challenge for the Scotch whisky industry at arguably the worst possible time'. Kristy Dorsey catches up with what is going on at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire as it gears up to host the Women's Scottish Open, with world number one Nelly Korda scheduled to play. Read more Craig Reekie, general manager of Dundonald Links, tells Kristy: 'It's a world-class field we've got this year, and we're excited to be doing it in the middle of Ayrshire, which has obviously got a rich golfing history.' I interview Graeme Malcolm, co-founder and chief executive of M Squared Lasers, who recalls: 'My journey began with a fascination for lasers, inspired by a great physics teacher and a summer job at Barr & Stroud.' He declares: 'I'm proud that we've developed some of the world's purest light sources, powering breakthroughs in science and industry.' And he talks about how the lasers of M Squared support European Space Agency missions and 'are used in healthcare imaging for early diagnosis of conditions like Parkinson's and dementia'. Read more Mark Williamson speaks to Offshore Energies UK chief executive David Whitehouse about the outlook for investment in the North Sea. João Sousa, deputy director of the University of Strathclyde's Fraser of Allander Institute, considers the following question: 'One year on, how different has economic and fiscal policy been under Labour?' Stephen Boyd, director of IPPR Scotland, writes: 'Economic development is a tortuously difficult endeavour, wrought with difficult decisions, trade-offs and sheer bad luck.' And he gives his view on how the Scottish Government is faring on these fronts. In her regular column, fashion entrepreneur Antoinette Fionda-Douglas writes: 'In Scotland, being an entrepreneur already takes grit. Being a female entrepreneur? That takes something more, something closer to defiance.' Gareth Cole talks to Sarah Campbell about putting Café Canna up for sale and his plans to take over a new space on Coll. Also on an island theme, Colin Cardwell profiles Bute Boatbuilders following the successful delivery of the ferry Arranmore Blu to its a new home in Donegal, proving in the process that bespoke ship building on the Clyde is alive and well. The Herald's business writers share their expert perspectives on a range of business and economic developments as they reflect on what they have been writing about during the past month. Scott Wright contemplates who has had a good month, and who has not. Tech entrepreneur Ian Ritchie, and business and life coach Ed Haddon offer their insights in their regular columns. I hope you enjoy this month's edition.
RTÉ News
27-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
New Árainn Mhór ferry vessel to be officially launched
A milestone for offshore island transport in Co Donegal, will be marked this afternoon as a new vessel, the 'Arranmore Blu' ferry, will be officially launched. The 96 passenger and ten vehicle capacity ferry will provide a six-times daily ferry service between Árainn Mhór and Ailt an Chorráin in west Donegal. The 'Arranmore Blu' was designed by Marine Design Ltd in Glasgow, and it was constructed by Bute Boat Builders in the Firth of Clyde in Scotland. The ferry will replace the MV Morvern, a vessel built in 1972 and formerly part of the Caledonian MacBrayne fleet. Arranmore Ferry Service Managing Director Seamus Boyle said the arrival of the 'Arranmore Blu' represents not just a new vessel, "but a new era for our island community". He said the "ferry has been designed with our passengers' comfort and safety as the top priority, while also accommodating the practical needs of island life". The Boyle family has operated the ferry service between Árainn Mhór and Ailt an Chorráin since June 2007. They began providing a service with the Realt na Maidine vessel - an 11m fast ferry constructed by Red Bay in Cushendall, Co Antrim. They expanded the fleet later in 2007 with the Girl Gray, a 14m Aquastar fast boat. Due to increased demand, they acquired the MV Bruernish from Calmac, a ferry operator on the west coast of Scotland in 2008. The following year - 2009, they acquired the MV Morvern from the same Scottish firm - the boat has served Árainn Mhór for 16 years. It will make way for the 'Arranmore Blu'. Over the years, the Árainn Mhór fleet evolved with the addition of the Yoker Swan and Renfrew Rose from the Clyde. Those two boats were eventually replaced by the Misneach - the first landing craft ferry to serve Árainn Mhór and it later made way the MV Canna - a boat that previously served Rathlin Island, Co Antrim as well west Scottish islands. The owners of the Árainn Mhór ferry service began planning five years ago for a new vessel that would offer greater capacity, safety and comfort and meet the future needs of the Gaeltacht island. Mr Boyle said they are incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this project and added they "look forward to providing reliable, modern ferry services for generations to come".
The Herald Scotland
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scottish built ferry replaces ageing ex-CalMac vessel on Irish route
It was brought into service over the weekend but will be officially launched on June 27 with a naming ceremony. The ferry is to serve the island of Arranmore, off the coast of Donegal. The journey between the island and the mainland fishing port of Burtonport had previously been served by The Morvern, a vessel previously owned by Caledonian MacBrayne. Arranmore Fast Ferries was the third owner of the ship since it was sold by CalMac in 1995 after being put into service in 1972 but then deemed to be a 'little too small'. The company has now replaced it with The Arranmore Blu and is one of two vessels to travel the route between Burtonport and Arranmore. The boat had undergone sea trials in December last year and travelled from Bute to Donegal the same month, before undergoing further tests on the Irish west coast. Read More It has been described as being 'meticulously crafted' to cope with the difficult waters of the Atlantic ocean and ensure 'smoother and more reliable crossings' for islanders and those who want to visit the area. Former CalMac ferries have been a regular on the short route between the mainland and the island, which sits around five kilometres off the coast. Ex-CalMac vessels The Canna and The Bruernish were previously used while two other boats from the Clyde, the Renfrew Rose and the Yoker Swan, also travelled the route before The Morvern took over in 2008, and will now be retired from service. The Morvern had undergone a rebuild and lengthening when it was taken over by The Arranmore Ferry group in The company decided to upgrade their vessel in 2020 and approached Bute Boat Builders to provide them with a brand new ship. The Arranmore Blu can carry 100 passengers and has space for 10 vehicles while cutting down the journey time between the two destinations to less than 20 minutes. The Arranmore Ferry company say the 'state-of-the-art vessel represents a significant upgrade for The Arranmore Ferry, promising improved comfort, capacity, and efficiency for residents and visitors alike.' An Arranmore Ferry spokesperson said: 'Recognising the increasing demands of modern transport and larger vehicles, we began planning in 2020 for a new vessel that would offer greater capacity and comfort. 'The Arranmore Blu is the result of those efforts, designed to meet the future needs of our island community.' Bute Boat Builders had previously stated: 'It has been a pleasure to work with Seamus and Louise Boyle of Arranmore Ferry Co, we wish them every success with their new ferry, and look forward to the naming ceremony.'
