A ferry being built for CalMac has sailed under its own power for the first time eight years after construction began.
MV Glen Sannox began sea trials today and sailed past Gourock and Kilcreggan – it is expected that she will be delivered ahead of delivery this summer.
The ship and its sister vessel Glen Rosa were due to be finished in 2018, but the project has been plagued by design and construction issues.
Ferguson Marine said the start of sea trials was a significant milestone.
For the first time it was powered by its own engines, running on diesel.
The dual-fuel ship, the first of its type to be built in the UK, will eventually be capable of also running on liquefied natural gas once the gas systems are commissioned.
Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman said: “Today Glen Sannox confidently left the quayside under her own propulsion for the first time
“She sounded her horn and began the first in a series of rigorous sea trials. We began with the anchor and moved onto propulsion and manoeuvring tests. This will continue for the rest of the week.
“I would like to thank my colleagues at the shipyard and the team at CMAL for their hard work in achieving this key milestone.”
The contract for the two ferries was awarded to the shipyard in 2015.
Since then cost increases and delays mean the final bill is likely to be four times the original £97m contract price, and the ferries will be delivered at least six years late
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