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Delayed ferries unable to dock at harbour until 2029

Getty Images MV Caledonian Isles arriving at Ardrossan Harbour.Getty Images
Ardrossan Harbour has been deemed too small for new Isle of Arran ferries

Two new CalMac ferries delivered late and over-budget will not be able to dock at a publicly-owned harbour until at least 2029.

The Scottish government said facilities at Ardrossan Harbour were not currently equipped to allow MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa to berth.

The harbour, which was taken into public ownership last month, is set to be the long-term home for the service between North Ayrshire and the Isle of Arran but Troon has been used as a temporary mainland base.

On the final day of the Holyrood term Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop confirmed work on the harbour would not be completed for another three years in a letter to the net zero, energy and transport committee.

Glen Sannox began sailings in January last year – almost seven years after it was originally due to be delivered.

The Glen Rosa is due to be delivered at the end of this year, by which time the overall cost of building it at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard is expected to have risen to more than £197m.

In her letter, Hyslop, who will is standing down as an MSP, said work on the harbour would start in 2027 and would take around two years to complete "depending on agreed scope and contract phasing".

She added: "An outline business case is expected to be presented later in 2026 when approval is expected to be sought to proceed to procurement on a preferred scheme.

"Project costs for the revised scope can only be confirmed when the design work is progressed and a contract has been agreed."

The letter also revealed purchasing the harbour cost the government £16m - £6m for the facilities and £10m for control of the harbour authority.

MV Glen Sannox berthed.
The Glen Sannox will not be able to dock in Ardrossan until 2029

The deal meant that Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd took control of the harbour area from Peel Ports Group on behalf of the Scottish government.

Plans to redevelop the harbour through a partnership involving Peel Ports, North Ayrshire Council and the Scottish government were first announced in 2018.

But projected costs for the redevelopment rose sharply and it proved impossible to reach an agreement on how to manage the risks and financial outlay.