Glen Sannox (IV)

Glen Sannox, a name that, until the mid 2010s, would conjure up memories of the well-travelled and much-loved former Arran ferry from the late 1950s. Towards the end of the 2010s however a new Glen Sannox appeared on the scene. With Caledonian Isles rapidly approaching 30 years in service, it had been announced that Arran was to be next in line to receive new tonnage.

In the normal circumstances, the procurement process would last about 4 years between the intitial announcement of a new ferry to be built, and her entry into service. Indeed this had been the case with the two previous large newbuild vessels; Finlaggan and Loch Seaforth, both built by foreign yards. Sadly however the new Arran ferry was dogged with political interference and gloryseeking right from the off. The former Ferguson's shipyard had been rescued by billionaire best mate of (and donor to) the SNP, Jim McColl and inevitably the new Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) was announced on 31st August 2015 as the preferred bidder on a £97m contract to build two new sister vessels which became known as Hull 801 and Hull 802. Initially 801 was destined for Arran while 802 was announced as the new Uig Triangle ferry.

The first steel for 801 was cut in April 2016, with the keel being laid in February 2017. CMAL ran their now customary naming competition and the name Glen Sannox was the runaway winner. Over the coming months Glen Sannox gradually took shape on the slipway at Port Glasgow and the substantially incomplete ferry was launched on a dull and murky 21st November 2017 by Nicola Sturgeon. In fact, so incomplete was the ferry that the funnels fitted were non-functional mock-ups, the entire bridge was a wooden shell with black painted windows and the bulbous bow was unfit for purpose and is alleged to have been fitted only to trigger so-called milestone payments.

The following years saw Glen Sannox's fitting out process descend into what can only be described as a farce, with seemingly endless delays. From behind a political smokescreen it emerged that the design of the new ferry wasn't even signed off before construction had commenced and the blame game started between CMAL and FMEL, with progress grinding to a halt. We're not going to list all the failings during the fitting out process here (though a quick Google search of the 'ferries fiasco' will bring up the details for those that want to know more) but finally, after exactly 7 years to the day since she first took to the waters of the Clyde, Glen Sannox was completed and handed over from FMEL to CMAL and for the first time, the CalMac ensign was flown from her mast. Prior to handover, several weeks of sea trials were carried out, these identifying a fault with the anchor system to be rectified post-handover.

Trials were conducted to test the new (to the UK) LNG fuel system and were by-and-large successful, save for one incident which resulted in the ship losing power at sea. This was later identified and rectified to the satisfaction of all concerned - not least the MCA whose final sign off was required if the ship was to ever carry passengers.

Six weeks of trials and crew training would then follow with the Glen Sannox eventually due to enter service on the Arran service, running from Troon to Brodick until such time as Ardrossan is either upgraded or abandoned altogether - yes, another political fiasco that has been allowed to rumble on without conclusion. She will be joined a year later by sister ship Glen Rosa, whose arrival should permit Caledonian Isles to be cascaded elsewhere (potentially Oban - Craignure).

We will update this history profile once Glen Sannox enters service, to include a description of the internal layout and facilities found onboard.