Latest news with #Cmal
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
CalMac ferry due to be scrapped given reprieve by Brexit
Since then the ferry has been anchored at King George V dock on the Clyde, awaiting transfer to Denmark to be scrapped. That was first mooted for April, but according to The Scotsman the ship has been unable to enter the European Union due to regulations over hazardous waste. Read More: The issue is believed to be related to the freezer compartments on board, and in particular the insulation used in their construction. A Cmal spokesperson said: 'Decommissioning a ferry is a complex task, which requires input from a range of specialists. 'From salvaging engine parts to removing hazardous material, the project has been closely managed to ensure compliance with all partners, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Danish equivalent. 'We are in the final stages of completing the required paperwork and hope to see her start the journey to Denmark as soon as all necessary permissions are granted. 'The rules have changed since Brexit and it takes more time to obtain approvals on paperwork. When paired with the complexity of decommissioning work to retain important parts of the vessel, the project has taken slightly longer than originally planned.'
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Veteran CalMac ferry Hebridean Isles' final voyage delayed by post-Brexit hazardous waste regulations
Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A veteran CalMac ferry has had a stay of execution from a Danish scrapyard because of post-Brexit regulations over importing hazardous material into the EU, The Scotsman has learned. Hebridean Isles, which was retired in November after nearly 39 years service, is still docked in Glasgow pending its final voyage to the breaker's yard to be recycled. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hebridean Isles at King George V Dock in Glasgow on May 21 | John Devlin/The Scotsman The 85m-long ferry was due to have been towed to Esbjerg in Denmark in April after equipment was stripped from the vessel for spare parts and preservation as memorial artefacts. However, it remains at King George V Dock near the Braehead shopping centre, pending the ship being permitted to enter the EU because it contains hazardous material. This is understood to relate to insulation in freezer compartments aboard. The 3,040 tonne ferry's decommissioning is being handled by Scottish Government-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), which owns CalMac's fleet. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A Cmal spokesperson said: 'Decommissioning a ferry is a complex task, which requires input from a range of specialists. Hebridean Isles was due to have left Glasgow in April | Jamie O'Hara 'From salvaging engine parts to removing hazardous material, the project has been closely managed to ensure compliance with all partners, such as the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Danish equivalent. 'The rules have changed since Brexit' 'We are in the final stages of completing the required paperwork and hope to see her start the journey to Denmark as soon as all necessary permissions are granted. 'The rules have changed since Brexit and it takes more time to obtain approvals on paperwork. When paired with the complexity of decommissioning work to retain important parts of the vessel, the project has taken slightly longer than originally planned.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cmal said in February in relation to Hebridean Isles' scheduled departure from Scotland: 'We are targeting April subject to regulatory approval.' However, in May, it said: 'The plan is for the vessel to start the journey next month.' The voyage is expected to take six to seven days. 'No loss or profit' The company said the ferry, which latterly served the main Islay route, was being recycled in Denmark rather than in Scotland or elsewhere in the UK because it was 'the most commercially viable option', but Cmal would not make or lose money from the deal. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Its spokesperson said: 'The expectation is that there will be no loss or profit. However, valuable assets were recovered during the decommissioning of the vessel, which will be used to support the existing fleet.' These include the ferry's engine, pumps, alternators and gearbox, which have been saved as spare parts for other CalMac vessels of a similar vintage. Hebridean Isles' bridge being stripped of parts | Craig Findlay Other items will go on display, such as seating and lifebuoys at public gardens in Islay, the ship's bell at a museum on the island, and a builder's plaque at Selby in North Yorkshire where the ship was built. First CalMac ferry to be recycled for 14 years CalMac is short of vessels, but the decision to scrap Hebridean Isles was made because of the major cost of work likely to have been needed for continued passenger carrying after the vessel's safety certification expired in November. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Read more: Ferguson Marine reveals major new delay to Glen Rosa ferry completion
Scotsman
05-06-2025
- Scotsman
CalMac's newest ferry Isle of Islay completes first sea trials in Turkey - but will be almost a year late
Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The first of four CalMac ferries being built in Turkey is expected to carry its first passengers around a year late after the opening stage of sea trials were completed behind schedule in the latest of a series of delays. Isle of Islay, which is earmarked for the main route to the Hebridean island, completed the tests in the Sea of Marmara on May 30, it was announced on Thursday. The vessel should have been ready for sea trials by the start of the month. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Isle of Islay on its sea trials off Turkey late May | Cmal Scottish Government ferry-buying firm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) said a second set of sea trials would not take place until 'later this summer' and the vessel is scheduled to be delivered between July and September. It was originally due to have been finished in October last year, but was delayed to December, then March, then June. Cmal chief executive Kevin Hobbs has said the vessel would take two weeks after completion to reach Scotland, then need three to four weeks of port trials before entering service, which suggests it will not be carrying passengers until at least the autumn. The ferry, along with its sister vessel for the Kintyre-Islay route, Loch Indaal, and two others for the Skye-Harris-North Uist routes, have suffered a series of delays because of parts supply problems caused by the Ukraine war and instability in the Middle East. Shipyard workers were also being deployed for recovery work following a huge earthquake. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cmal said the sea trials had been carried out 'successfully' by Cemre Marin Endustri yard in Yalova from May 22 to 30, with Cmal and CalMac staff on board. The body said: 'The first part of the sea trials saw the set up of the propulsion systems, generators, thrusters, stabilisers and associated electrical systems. These were then tested, trialled and measured with [certification authority] Lloyd's Register and the Maritime Coastguard Agency [safety regulator] in attendance. 'Testing evaluated the vessel's performance at full load, including speed, stability, manoeuvrability, anchor deployment/recovery and endurance. The trials also established the effectiveness of the vessel's propulsion plant, automation and navigational systems. 'The second set of sea trials will take place later this summer following the installation of the vessel's battery system and harbour acceptance trials of the hybrid system.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cmal director of vessels Jim Anderson said: 'This is a great step forward in the build programme of the Isle of Islay. The team at Cemre are working hard to prepare the vessel for delivery.
