A major milestone in the modernisation of CalMac Ferries fleet was achieved with the launch of MV Lochmor, the first of two new vessels destined to transform services on the Little Minch routes. The vessel was launched at the Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in Yalova, Turkey, marking a significant step towards enhanced reliability and capacity for the communities of the Western Isles.
Compared to the current single-vessel service provided by MV Hebrides, the new ferry along with sister vessel, MV Claymore, will provide a two-vessel service to the routes between Uig on Skye, Tarbert (Harris) and Lochmaddy (North Uist). MV Lochmor can accommodate up to 450 passengers and 100 cars, or 14 commercial vehicles, bringing a major boost to capacity and resilience for the communities it will serve.
Transport Scotland provided £115m of funding for the Little Minch ferries project in 2022, with some of the budget allocated to minor port improvements to reflect the design of these vessels. The contract was awarded to Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard in February 2023, following a competitive tender process. MV Lochmor is the third of four standardised vessels being built at the Turkish yard for CMAL as part of a significant investment in Scotland’s ferry network.
The launch ceremony was attended by representatives of CMAL and key project stakeholders. The ferry was officially launched by Kay MacLeod, a long serving CalMac employee who works at Tarbert ferry terminal.
Following her launch, MV Lochmor will undergo further outfitting and system installations in the water before sea trials take place. She is scheduled to arrive in Scotland later in 2026, after which she will complete crew familiarisation and local operational testing before entering service.
A community event will be held in Tarbert (Harris) next year, where local residents and stakeholders will be invited on board to tour the new vessel and celebrate its addition to the fleet.
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, improving capacity, frequency and resilience for Harris and North Uist. I look forward to the MV Lochmor arriving in Scottish waters and entering service for the communities reliant on the Little Minch routes.”
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, and even more so when her sister vessel, MV Claymore, joins her a few months later.”
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. Kay, who has been with CalMac for over three decades, was the perfect candidate to mark this milestone in recognition for the hard work that she and other local colleagues put in to providing a reliable service on our Uig-Tarbert-Lochmaddy route.
“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.
“The vessel is one of 12 scheduled to join the fleet by 2029 and the regular arrival of new tonnage, starting with MV Isle of Islay later this year, will help us to deliver network-wide service improvements.”
Over the coming months, the first of the four vessels built at the yard, MV Isle of Islay, will be introduced into service on the Islay route. CMAL is working closely with Cemre Shipyard and CalMac with the shared goal of delivering and deploying all four vessels at the earliest opportunity.
