A ferry at the centre of a government fiasco will not be ecofriendly as ordered, and will only run on diesel – for at least the first nine months of its operation.
The Glen Sannox will then be taken back into dry dock to have a dual fuel system fitted – because the parts to do the job take 36-weeks to be delivered.
The Glen Sannox and Hull 802 are years behind schedule and millions of pounds over budget – but this latest news means they will also not be the energy efficient vessels the government originally ordered.
Ferguson Marine, based in Port Glasgow, told a government committee that a delay in obtaining vital parts means the Glen Sannox – designed to be “dual fuel” – will initially only run on diesel.
The boats are five years late and millions of pounds over budget. Originally intended for the Western Isles and Arran, last week the Scottish Government indicated they may now both be used on the Arran route.
Long list of concerns
It is the latest in a long list of concerns over the contract, including issues raised in a BBC documentary last month that suggested the contract to build the vessels may have been rigged.
The ferry was designed to run on dual fuel, alternating between diesel and greener liquefied natural gas (LNG).
It is understood that Ferguson’s chief executive David Tydeman wrote to the convener of Holyrood’s net zero, energy and transport committee” on Friday.
Mr Tydeman said the shipyard has not been able to source the parts for the LNG system.
Bosses hope that after nine months at sea they will be able to bring the ferry back to dock to fit the missing part and ensure it eventually operates on the dual fuel system.
In his letter Mr Tydeman said: ‘Bespoke vacuum sensors are required in the system. These are made to order, unfortunately, on a 36-week lead time from the supplier.
“Our emerging proposal to deal with this is to maintain the programme for handover of the ship by the end of May at the latest, initially running only with the diesel, single fuel system.
‘Surely it was known these were needed’
‘The LNG system will be essentially complete on ship by this time and hence we believe we can instal the sensors later whilst the vessel is in service during next summer.”
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson told the Herald newspaper: ‘This revelation just adds to the shambles around the building of this vessel, which was supposed to be climate-friendly.
“Surely it was known these sensors would be needed but now we are going to be left with a gas guzzling, climate-busting ferry for at least the first nine months of its service.
‘No doubt this will also increase the already spiralling cost of the Glen Sannox.’
Mr Simpson added: ‘The SNP’s handling of this project has been a disgrace from start to finish. We need a public inquiry to establish what went wrong and why.’
Last night a spokesman for the Scottish Government told The Herald: ‘Ministers are seeking urgent options on the next steps and expect all possible measures to be taken to deliver the vessel to serve islanders as soon as possible.”
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