CALEDONIAN Maritime Assets is calling for the public’s help to choose the names for seven new electric ferries.
CMAL, which will own the vessels, has produced a list of 17 names, taking the theme of Scottish lochs.
Voters can choose their seven favourites from the list, and the most popular options will be given to the ferries which are being built as part of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme (SVRP).
The shortlisted names are: Loch Awe, Loch Doon, Loch Earn, Loch Eck, Loch Ericht, Loch Etive, Loch Garry, Loch Katrine, Loch Leven, Loch Lubnaig, Loch Lyon, Loch Maree, Loch Morar, Loch Quoich, Loch Rannoch, Loch Shiel and Loch Tummel
The public can cast their votes at cmal.scot/vote from today 7 November 2025, until midnight on 28 November 2025.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Fiona Hyslop, said: “I am pleased that communities who will use these seven new vessels will have the opportunity to help choose their names through a public vote.
“Alongside our significant investment in six new major vessels, these seven new small vessels will serve routes across the Clyde and Hebrides for years to come, increasing capacity and providing vital resilience and reliability to the fleet. These vessels will also contribute to reduced carbon emissions and provide cleaner local air quality across the network with their electric operation.
“Inspired by Scotland’s lochs, it’s a fitting tribute to see potential names for these new vessels rightly link to the current loch class vessels they are set to replace. I would encourage all with an interest to take part in the public vote and look forward to seeing the results in due course.”
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL, said: “These all-electric vessels will be a welcome addition to our fleet, and will serve the islands for many years to come. It’s important that the communities who use them play a part in giving them their names.
“With a strong list of options, each having a connection to Scotland’s iconic lochs, I look forward to seeing which ones the public choose.”
Work to build the new loch-class electric ferries is progressing at Remontowa Shipbuilding in Gdansk.
They are expected to be deployed on the following routes: Colintraive-Rhubodach, Lochaline-Fishnish, Tarbert-Portavadie, Iona-Fionnphort, Sconser-Raasay, Tobermory-Kilchoan and Tayinloan-Gigha.
The first vessel is expected to be delivered in 2027.
