Under construction in Turkey for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), Isle of Islay will eventually join CalMac Ferry’s fleet on the West Coast of Scotland
A long-awaited hybrid-electric ferry newbuild to augment services in Scotland’s westerly Inner Hebrides islands has completed a second set of sea trials in Turkey’s Sea of Marmara.
Under construction at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey, the Isle of Islay vessel
During the vessel’s second sea trials Cemre set up and tested the battery energy storage system (BESS), as well as the testing and optimisation of the power management system (PMS) and energy management system (EMS) 16 July to Sunday, 20 July, according to owners CMAL. Staff from CMAL and ship operator CalMac.
“The successful testing of the hybrid system marks a significant step forward in completing this new vessel for Islay and Jura,” CMAL Director of Vessels at Jim Anderson said.”The team at Cemre have made good progress in the build programme for the vessel, and we continue to work closely with the shipyard as we move into the final stages of the build.”
CMAL said Isle of Islay has returned to the Cemre Marin Endustri quayside, where it is undergoing further outfitting work.
CMAL’s latest update said the vessel is due to be delivered in Q3 of 2025, but construction on the ferry has been interrupted or slowed by a number of factors, and the delivery date has been pushed back multiple times.
