Shipbuilder Cammell Laird has secured a contract with the country's biggest ferry operator to maintain and dry dock five of its large vessels.
The historic Merseyside firm has sealed a four-year deal with CalMac Ferries for the MV Clansman, MV Loch Seaforth, MV Lord of The Isles, MV Finlaggan and MV Hebrides vessels, which provide an "essential lifeline service" from the Inner and Outer Hebrides to the Scottish Mainland.
All five are expected to dock at Cammell Laird in Birkenhead between October and March each year, with the first arriving in early 2021.
Neil Harden, commercial director at Cammell Laird Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders Limited said: “We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with CalMac Ferries, but this is the first time we’ve been awarded a contract of this length.
"This is particularly significant as it allows us to undertake more long term and strategic planning, which in turn will deliver greater cost efficiencies, value and vessel availability for CalMac.
“We have the optimum facilities to support CalMac’s fleet with four docks to suit the larger vessels, plus the afloat berthing facility in the wet basin is used for MCA life raft deployments and running engines under load after major overhauls.”
CalMac Ferries says it is the UK’s largest ferry operator, running 29 routes to over 50 destinations across 200 miles of the Scottish West Coast and has been drydocking its vessels at Cammell Laird since 2003.
Julie Philpott, director of asset management from CalMac Ferries, said: “The team at Cammell Laird demonstrated a strong knowledge of our vessels and scored particularly highly on the technical and quality aspects of their competitive contract tender.
"We look forward to continuing with our long-standing relationship with the team at Cammell Laird. The longer term contract will afford us significant benefits, all of which help to maximise vessel availability and continue offering the best service for our customers.”
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