Cammell Laird hosts keel-laying ceremony for first of two new Scottish ferries it is building in a contract worth tens of millions of pounds. Tony McDonough reports

Workers at the Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead have hosted the keel laying ceremony for the first of two Scottish ferries, MV Sound of Scalpay.

In April LBN revealed Cammell Laird had won the contract to build MV Sound of Scalpay and MV Sound of Sleat for Western Ferries (Clyde). They will operate on the Gourock to Dunoon route and are due to be delivered to the Firth of Clyde in autumn 2026.

Value of the deal has not been disclosed. Cammell Laird is currently building a new Mersey Ferry at a cost of £26m so it is likely the Scottish deal easily runs into the tens of millions.

This latest contract builds on the successful relationship established in 2013, when APCL Cammell Laird designed, built, and delivered Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay, which have been stalwarts of the Western Ferries’ fleet ever since with 32,000 annual sailings.

MV Sound of Scalpay will be a 50m double ended vessel designed to carry 40 cars and 220 passengers. The 2013 design has been further optimised to minimise fuel consumption and increase the efficiency of operation.

Fuel efficiency savings have been achieved principally by the efficient matching of the hull design to the propulsion package, the reduction of permanent ballast installed and selection of low energy consumption machinery.

Cammell Laird’s design team has also enhanced the original design of the superstructure to improve the aesthetics, with upgrades being made to the heating and ventilation system to improve the passenger and crew experience.

David McGinley, chief executive of Cammell Laird, said: “It is a point of pride that we welcome back Western Ferries as a returning customer and this contract is a significant vote of confidence in our facilities and shipbuilding capabilities.

“Contracts such as these underpin the ongoing success of APCL Cammell Laird and the wider Group. We look forward to continuing the construction of MV Sound of Scalpay and the MV Sound of Sleat over the coming months.”

Western Ferries’ chairman, James Denham, added: “This keel laying marks a very exciting milestone in the construction of our two new vessels, due for delivery in autumn 2026.

“Progress made by Cammell Laird has been exceptional, reaching this stage in just a few short months is a fantastic achievement and a real testament to the dedication of everyone involved.”