The lead bidder for a contract to build seven new loch-class electric ferries has been identified. Port Glasgow-headquartered Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) intends to award the contract to Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A in Gdansk, Poland, following a 10-day standstill period.
The small vessel replacement programme (SVRP) will see seven fully electric vessels built in the first phase.
Three more will be delivered in phase two of the project, which will be procured through a separate competitive tender process later this year.
CMAL said on Monday that the electric ferries will help to support island communities and improve the resilience of the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network, with delivery of the first vessel expected in 2027.
Following an initial exercise to identify suitably qualified and experienced shipyards, six were invited to tender for the contract, with five yards returning responses.
Bids were robustly assessed against technical and financial criteria, CMAL said, with a 65%/35% weighting, respectively. The panel scoring the bids consisted of third-party marine specialists and experts from CMAL.
When scores across criteria were combined, Remontowa’s bid achieved the highest score and was identified as the winning yard, according to CMAL announcement.
Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, said: “I welcome this milestone being reached in the procurement to build and deliver seven new small vessels to our ferry network.
“These seven new vessels will help improve connectivity and resilience for island residents, businesses and communities, and their electric operation will contribute to reduced carbon emissions from Scotland’s ferry fleet and make ferry travel more sustainable.
“I appreciate all the work that has gone into getting us to this important stage of the procurement process, particularly by CMAL, and am hopeful that we can look forward to contracts being signed at the end of the required standstill period.”
Kevin Hobbs, chief executive of CMAL, noted: “It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels which meet the needs of islanders, but that also deliver the best value for the public purse.
“We are confident in Remontowa’s ability, and have worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of the MV Finlaggan in 2011. We will now enter a 10-day standstill period before finalising the contract.”
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited owns ferries, ports and harbours and infrastructure necessary for vital ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary, and the Northern Isles.
It is wholly owned by the Scottish Government with Scottish Ministers the sole shareholders.
