Transport Scotland is procuring seven new electric ferries to enhance the Clyde and Hebrides ferries network and support the island communities.
Phase 1 of the Small Vessels Replacement Programme has an estimated cost of 175 million GBP. This investment will enable the purchase of the seven new vessels, while also funding port improvements and shore power upgrades.
The initial stage of the tender process will evaluate whether interested shipyards meet the necessary financial and technical criteria to undertake the project.
The formal invitation to tender for this contract is anticipated to be issued around September 2024, with the contract expected to be awarded by March 2025.
Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop said:The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to improving our ferry fleet to better meet the needs of island communities, so I’m very pleased to see the procurement process for seven new small vessels get underway today.
Our intention is that these ferries would be deployed on seven existing routes, but would also bring benefits to two other routes from the redeployment of existing vessels. These nine routes currently serve around 30% of the car and passenger carryings on the Clyde and Hebrides network.
The new vessels will also be electric, helping us to deliver a significant improvement in emissions and local air quality and taking us towards a lower carbon ferry network.
This procurement is a vital step forward in our plans to improve our ferry services and I look forward to following its progress closely over the coming months.
