Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL) said the construction of the two LNG-powered ferries at the Glasgow-based shipbuilder, Ferguson Marine Engineering (FMEL) is moving ahead.
CMAL noted that the first vessel, known as Hull 801 is currently 75 percent complete while the second vessel, Hull 802 has reached 60 percent completion.
The 102-meter vessels will be capable of operating on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO), and are being designed to provide service fro Arran and the Skye Triangle routes.
During February, the dual fuel engines that will power the vessels were delivered to Ferguson Marine Engineering’s shipyard in Port Glasgow.
The 147 cubic meter LNG tanks supplied by Wartsila are nearing completion and are expected to be delivered to the shipyard in June 2017. Work is also underway on the aluminum superstructure that will form the accommodation block of the ships, CMAL’s statement reads.
Liam Campbell , managing director at Ferguson Marine Engineering said the project is now entering the stage “of the build on the vessels that will see much of the equipment being delivered and allow us to further advance the outfitting of the vessels both on the slipway and in the module hall.”
The first ferry is expected to enter service in the second half of 2018, with the second vessel following a few months later.