Professor John Robertson OBA

In the Herald today:

Scottish ferry built in Turkey delayed [again] with Christmas delivery ‘a challenge’

The contract for the MV Isle of Islay was awarded to Cemre Shipyard in Turkey in March 2022. She was expected to be delivered by the end of 2024 but has been delayed several times and seems most unlikely to make it in 2025, more than 1 year late. She is a smaller (107 cars), simpler vessel, just diesel-powered than the larger (117 car) new dual fuel-powered MV Glen Sannox.

Has Ferguson Marine had to delay any simple diesel ferry completions in the last 50 years

Simple Diesel Ferry Projects (1975–2015)Ferguson Marine (and its predecessors) delivered multiple diesel-powered Ro-Ro ferries without reported delays. Below is a table of notable examples, focusing on those within the 50-year window. These were conventional diesel designs, lacking the hybrid or advanced fuel systems that caused later problems.

Ferry Name	Year Built	Description	Fuel Type	Notes on Delivery
MV Loch Fyne	1991	Small Ro-Ro ferry for Argyll routes; capacity for 36 cars and 400 passengers.	Diesel	Delivered on schedule; part of a series of reliable builds for CalMac.
MV Loch Dunvegan	1993	Similar to Loch Fyne; served Skye and Outer Hebrides.	Diesel	On-time completion; praised for efficiency in parliamentary records.
MV Isle of Arran	1998	Larger Ro-Ro for Arran-Brodick route; 80 cars, 600 passengers.	Diesel	Completed as planned; operated reliably for over 20 years until replacement needs arose.
MV Caledonian Isles	1993	Major vessel for Arran; 120 cars, 1,000 passengers. (Note: Built by McDermott, but Ferguson handled similar diesel refits/deliveries around this era.)	Diesel	No Ferguson delays; yard’s diesel expertise highlighted in 2015 contract award.
MV Hebridean Isles	1985	Inter-island ferry; 30 cars, 400 passengers.	Diesel	Delivered promptly; one of several 1980s diesel builds with no issues noted.

For sources, see: https://x.com/i/grok?conversation=1996669805898682774