Scotland's 'green' ferry to run on diesel for nine months

One of the ferries in a controversial Scottish government contract will initially only operate on diesel – despite being built to also run with liquefied natural gas (LNG).

The Glen Sannox is one of two delayed and overbudget dual-fuel vessels.

Builder Ferguson Marine has told MSPs a “technical issue” had delayed the LNG system by at least nine months.

The vessel was once hailed as a step towards a greener future for Scotland’s state-owned CalMac ferry fleet.

The technical issue relates to delays in the supply of sensors needed for the LNG fuel system.

The yard is now proposing the Glen Sannox runs only on diesel for at least the first nine months of service.

David Tydeman, chief executive of Ferguson Marine, wrote to MSPs to tell them of his proposed fix.

He said: “Our emerging proposal to deal with this is to maintain the programme for handover of the ship by the end of May latest, initially running only with the diesel, single fuel system.

“The LNG system will be essentially complete on ship by this time and hence we believe we can install the sensors later whilst the vessel is in service during next summer.”

Advocates of LNG argue that it is less harmful to the environment than traditional marine fuels such as oil or diesel.

However, this does not take into account greenhouse emissions during extraction and transport of the gas.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: “This revelation just adds to the shambles around the building of this vessel, which was supposed to be climate-friendly.

“Surely it was known these sensors would be needed but now we are going to be left with a gas guzzling, climate-busting ferry for at least the first nine months of its service.”

“No doubt this will also increase the already spiralling cost of the Glen Sannox.”

The two vessels being built by Ferguson Marine, Glen Sannox and the unnamed Hull 802, will be more than £150m over budget and five years late when eventually delivered.

A BBC Scotland documentary in September uncovered irregularities in the awarding of the original £97m contract – indicating that Ferguson Marine benefited from preferential treatment.

Government-owned ferries agency CMAL defended the procurement and said a 2018 audit found “no adverse issues”. However, Scotland’s Auditor General has been asked to investigate.

BBC Scotland had asked ferry procurement agency CMAL last week if it still intended to fully commission the LNG system on the Glen Sannox, prior to accepting delivery of the vessel from Ferguson Marine.

A spokesperson said: “It is still CMAL’s intention to fully commission LNG systems on both Glen Sannox and Hull 802.”

A Scottish government spokesman said it had been informed of the LNG issue.

He added: “Ministers are seeking urgent options on the next steps and expect all possible measures to be taken to deliver the vessel to serve islanders as soon as possible.”