'MV Isle' to be launched in March 2024, announced by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has announced the launch of MV Isle of Islay on 16 March 2024 at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey.
It is the first of four ferries being built at the yard, and marks a major milestone in CMAL’s commitment to delivering new ferries to serve the Scottish islands—with the hull now structurally complete, all blocks for the vessel have been erected and surveyed.
The launch will see the vessel move from the slipway into the water, where work will continue onboard. In line with the shipyard build programme, the vessel will remain on the slipway until March, where installation of pipework, equipment, machinery, electrical works, and outfitting will be progressed. Subsequently, underwater hull coatings will be applied, and propulsors installed before launching.
The ferry, which will serve Islay and Jura, is set to be delivered in October 2024. Following the transit from Turkey, it will undergo crew familiarisation and local operational trials before it enters service.
An official naming ceremony will take place on Islay towards the end of the year, where community representatives and stakeholders will be invited to board and tour the vessel to celebrate its arrival before it officially joins the fleet.|
Work at the Cemre shipyard continues to progress well, with the project coming in on time and on budget. We look forward to witnessing the launch, which is a major milestone in the vessel’s construction.
We look forward to celebrating with the community towards the end of the year, where the vessel will be officially given its name, MV Isle of Islay.
—Jim Anderson, Director of Vessels at CMAL