The first of two new ferries for Scotland’s Little Minch routes has been launched in Turkey as part of an effort to improve capacity and resilience for island communities.
MV Lochmor was floated on 23 August at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova. She is the first of a pair of sister vessels, alongside MV Claymore, ordered to replace the ageing single-ship service of MV Hebrides between Uig on Skye, Tarbert on Harris, and Lochmaddy on North Uist.
The new vessel can carry up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles. The Scottish Government allocated £115 million in 2022 to fund the Little Minch ferries, including related port improvements. Cemre Marin Endustri won the construction contract in February 2023, following a competitive tender.
The launch was attended by representatives of CMAL and other stakeholders. The vessel was officially launched by Kay MacLeod, a long-serving CalMac employee based at Tarbert ferry terminal.
Following launch, Lochmor will undergo outfitting and system installation before trials at sea. Delivery to Scotland is expected in late 2026, after which she will complete crew familiarisation and local testing before entering service. A community event is planned in Tarbert next year, allowing residents to tour the vessel.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: “I’m delighted to see the successful launch of the MV Lochmor, which marks another significant milestone in our efforts to renew the ferry fleet serving the Clyde and Hebrides network. The Scottish Government is committed to investing in our ferry services, and the MV Lochmor, along with the MV Claymore and significant port improvements, will deliver our goal of a two-vessel service connecting Uig, Tarbert and Lochmaddy.”
Kevin Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer at CMAL, said: “It’s great to see another successful launch at Cemre, with the third of four vessels launched in 17 months. The communities to be served by these vessels will notice a significant improvement in capacity and reliability when MV Lochmor comes into service next year.”
Duncan Mackison, Chief Executive Officer of CalMac, said: “I am delighted that, in Kay MacLeod, MV Lochmor has been launched by a long-standing CalMac employee who has a steadfast commitment to the islands this vessel will serve. With the uplift in capacity and reliability MV Lochmor and MV Claymore will bring, communities and businesses in Skye, Harris and North Uist will prosper with these new vessels in service.”
Lochmor is the third of four standardised ferries being built at Cemre for CMAL. The first, MV Isle of Islay, is due to begin service later this year. CMAL, Cemre and CalMac say their shared goal is to deliver all four new vessels into service by 2029.