FIRST New Upper Clyde Ferry Not Expected Before End Of 2024

3 December, 2021 | Clyde Shipping

Argyll Flyer, one of the current vessels

FERRY users are being invited to have their say over the design of new vessels for services operating from Gourock.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) is leading the project to provide three passenger ferries for routes between Gourock, Dunoon and Kilcreggan.

CMAL’s ship designers and naval architects have been working with engineering firm BMT since January this year to develop concept designs.

The team is focused on providing a resilient and reliable service while reducing carbon emissions. Work is ongoing on the evaluation of energy efficiency solutions.

A range of vessel options have been considered and analysed, and two options — 40-metre catamaran or monohull design — have emerged as front runners based on an appraisal against a range of criteria, including safety, reliability, speed, capacity and sustainability.

The preferred option will be announced in January 2022. It’s expected that a contract for construction will be awarded to a shipyard in the first quarter of 2023 with the first boat due for delivery in the final quarter of 2024 or first quarter of 2025.

Those who are interested in sharing their views can find out more about development work to date, design concepts and options, and access the online survey form at www.cmassets.co.uk/project/gourock/

Andy Crossan, senior technical manager and projects director at CMAL, said: “We are still very much in the concept assessment stage of this project. Lots of work has been done on scoping out various options that meet passenger and operator requirements, as well as safety, maritime regulations and environmental factors.

“Now is a good time for us to update the community on work to date and to seek their views on the direction of the project. Community feedback will be considered when making a decision on the final preferred option and in the subsequent development of that option.”

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