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Glen Sannox ferry sailings to resume after crack repair

The brand new vessel only began operating in January after being delivered almost seven years late.

The new Glen Sannox ferry is expected to resume sailings on Sunday after repairs have been completed on a crack in the ship's hull.

The brand new vessel only began operating in January after being delivered almost seven years late and costing more than four times the original contract price.

CalMac confirmed the news after divers carried out a detailed assessment of the damage on Saturday.

The ferry had been operating for just over two months between Troon in South Ayrshire and Brodick in the Isle of Arran.

CalMac The ferry has a crack on a weld seam on the vessel's hull, close to the waterlineCalMac
CalMac said MV Glen Sannox had been removed from service due to a crack on a weld seam on the vessel's hull which is close to the waterline

A CalMac spokesman said: "The dive inspection has identified a hairline crack on a weld seam on MV Glen Sannox's hull earlier today and we can confirm repairs are now underway at Brodick and expected to complete later today.

"We anticipate MV Glen Sannox to resume timetabled service on Sunday 16 March and will confirm this evening."

It added the MV Alfred would operate an extra return sailing on Saturday to provide cover and said the "vast majority" of booked customers had been able to travel.

The vessel was removed from service on Friday after a crack was found on a "weld seam close to the waterline".

The ferry operator said reports that the boat had hit the harbour or that water was leaking into the car deck were "categorically untrue".

However, CalMac advised that a "very small amount of water" had entered part of the rear of the ship near the steering gear.

A bald middle-aged man standing with his hands against a wire fence at a ferry port, with a large vessel in the background. He is wearing a grey half-zip fleece, black t-shirt and has a pair of black rimmed glasses balancing on his head,
Ewan Thomson is currently renovating a home on Arran

Passengers earlier expressed frustration over the postponement of Saturday sailings on the Glen Sannox, which has space for 127 cars and 852 passengers.

Ewan Thomson, who has a home on Arran, had to carry tools he was using for renovation work as a foot passenger as he was unable to book his van on the journey back to the mainland.

He told BBC Scotland News: "The Scottish government have pledged money to Ferguson Marine for the best of reasons but who in the world would buy a boat from them?

"I would not buy a rowing boat from them.

"They can't deliver on time, they can't deliver on budget and they can't deliver a boat that sails on the water."

Diana Turbett has lived on the island for 37 years.

She said: "I have never known such uncertainty and the fact there is a crack on a brand new boat is concerning.

"I have seen people raise concerns about the quality of the welding.

"It is very worrying."

The Glen Sannox moored in slightly choppy water at Brodick under a cloudy blue sky
The Glen Sannox has only been in operation since January

The order for Glen Sannox and another ship were placed with the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow nearly a decade ago.

But disputes over the design and claims for extra costs saw the shipyard fall into administration, and then be nationalised in 2019.

The ships have ended up costing more than four times the £97m contract price.

A Scottish government agency owns the ferries, leading to criticism of the SNP from opposition parties.

Scottish Conservative West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene said: "This latest fault has marked yet another unforgivable chapter in this shambolic ferry fiasco.

"While it's welcome that services are to resume on Sunday, passengers will wonder why problems arose with the Glen Sannox just weeks into launching after a seven-year delay."

And Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie said: "This has been a never-ending nightmare for this SNP commissioned ferry contract."