By
Rebecca Gibson |
German shipbuilding yard Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) launched Scottish operator Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited’s (CMAL) new ro-pax ferry Loch Seaforth on 21 March.
FSG was commissioned to build the ferry in June 2012 after a competitive international tender process initiated as part of the Scottish Government’s draft ferries plan, which aims to upgrade the country’s ferry services.
Designed to accommodate up to 700 passengers and 143 cars, or 20 commercial vehicles, the 116m ferry will have a service speed of 19.2 knots and consume a quarter less fuel than Isle of Lewis and Muirneag, which currently serve on the Western Isles route. The new £41.8 million ro-pax vessel also features a combined mechanical/electrical propulsion drive system to provide extensive system redundancy and allow for maintenance during operation, which will minimise downtime.
Scheduled for delivery in June, Loch Seaforth will replace Isle of Lewis and Muirneag and operate a 24-hour service on the Stornoway-Ullapool route between the mainland in north-west Scotland and the Isle of Lewis in the Hebrides.
“When we reached agreement on this project with CMAL a year and a half ago, the contract was dependent on the highest possible degree of reliability,” said FSG chief Peter Sierk, explaining that CMAL wanted to start Loch Seaforth’s service in July 2014. “CMAL also placed high demands on reliable and trouble-free operation because it wanted Loch Seaforth to replace two older ferries in 24-hour operation on a dependable, no-delay timetable. The construction of Loch Seaforth demonstrates that we succeed when we develop individual and innovative solutions on behalf of customers.”