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The Scottish ferry Glen Sannox, which began service to the Isle of Arran in January 2025, requires new propellers as part of extensive repairs estimated to cost up to £3.2 million. The vessel’s current issues stem from a small crack detected in its hull, which was revealed during a recent hearing before Scotland’s Holyrood net zero, energy, and transport committee. Shipyard officials explained that while additional steel reinforcements had been added to the ferry, only replacing the propellers would address the fundamental cause of the damage.
Graeme Thomson, the chief executive of Ferguson Marine, the shipyard responsible for building the ferry, explained that the crack resulted from vibrations caused by cavitation—a phenomenon where bubbles detach from the propeller and collapse, creating harmful vibrations. He noted that these vibrations were particularly problematic when the Glen Sannox moved astern, leading to stress on the hull. Thomson also confirmed that similar repairs will be necessary for Glen Sannox’s sister ship, Glen Rosa. The design of the ferries, initially intended to allow operation on both the Arran route and the higher-speed “Uig triangle” serving parts of the Outer Hebrides, contributed to the technical challenges.
The Glen Sannox is notable as the first major new ferry added to the west of Scotland’s fleet in ten years and was the first UK ferry capable of running on two types of fuel: liquified natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO), a low-sulphur diesel option. Despite these advancements, the ferry’s introduction was marred by delays and budget overruns: it was delivered seven years late and cost four times the original budget. The ship has already been taken out of service for hull crack repairs and underwent annual maintenance at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Merseyside last November.
The troubled procurement and build of Glen Sannox and her sister vessel Glen Rosa have generated significant controversy and political fallout. The issue has damaged the reputation of the Scottish National Party government, the ferry procurement agency CMAL, and Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), the state-owned ferry operator. A highly publicized but ultimately superficial launch of Glen Sannox in 2017, featuring a mock funnel and painted-on windows, became emblematic of the wider problems. Following these issues, the Scottish government took over Ferguson’s shipyard in Port Glasgow. Looking ahead, Glen Rosa is expected to enter service later in 2026, joining Glen Sannox on the route between Troon and Brodick in 2027. Despite cautious optimism from Ferguson Marine leadership, they acknowledged the complexity of the project means no guarantees of avoiding further delays or increased costs can be given
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