Successful Sea Trials for Delayed Ferry Glen Sannox: Progress Update
The MV Glen Sannox, a long-awaited ferry that has faced years of delays and budget overruns, has finally begun further sea trials that are showing promise. The liquefied natural gas (LNG) trials for the vessel officially commenced on Friday, according to Ferguson Marine.
After a series of setbacks and missed target dates, the Port Glasgow yard’s chief executive, John Petticrew, expressed optimism about the recent progress. The company announced that the Glen Sannox was sailing in the Firth of Clyde and would continue to do so over the weekend, testing the capabilities of the LNG engines and evaluating the vessel’s maneuverability, acceleration, and speed.
Delays and Challenges
The Glen Sannox and her sister ship, the Glen Rosa, have faced significant delays and issues over the years. Originally scheduled for completion in 2018 at a cost of £97 million, the two ferries have experienced delays due to difficulties in installing the LNG system. The nationalized yard has struggled to reach the required temperature of approximately minus 160C to maintain the LNG, causing setbacks in the delivery timeline.
Despite being designed as “dual fuel” ferries capable of running on both traditional marine gas oil and LNG, the vessels have encountered challenges in implementing the LNG technology. This has led to repeated delays and additional costs for the shipyard, which has been working to address these issues over the past year.
Progress and Future Plans
The current sea trials mark a significant milestone in the journey towards completing the Glen Sannox and her sister ship. The acceptance trials are scheduled to begin on September 30 and run until October 4, providing an opportunity to further test the vessels’ performance and functionality.
Upon completion of the trials, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa will eventually serve the west coast of Scotland after delivery to CalMac. While the delays and challenges have been frustrating for all parties involved, the successful sea trials offer hope that the ferries will soon be ready to enter service and fulfill their intended purpose.
In conclusion, the recent progress with the Glen Sannox sea trials is a positive development for the long-awaited ferry and a step towards resolving the delays and issues that have plagued the project. With continued testing and evaluation, the vessels are on track to serve the west coast of Scotland and contribute to the region’s transportation infrastructure.