AN AYRSHIRE MSP has described the latest delay to Arran's new ferry entering service as "another blow for islanders".
Katy Clark was responding to the news that the MV Glen Sannox's arrival had been delayed for another two months at least.
It's now expected that the new ship will not be delivered until the end of July at the earliest.
Once delivered the ship will have to undergo further trials before it's finally ready to enter service.
And when it is eventually ready to carry passengers, the vessel, and its sister ship MV Glen Rosa, will have to sail to and from Troon, instead of Ardrossan, while the wait goes on for the essential upgrades at the North Ayrshire port that are required to accommodate the new ferries.
Ms Clark, a Labour MSP for the West Scotland region, said: "This news is yet another blow for islanders who have now been waiting an astonishing six years for this urgently needed vessel to be completed.
“It also serves as a reminder of the urgent need to now make progress on the project to redevelop Ardrossan Harbour, which is necessary to run the vessel on this route in the long term.
"Months after it was promised, we are still waiting for the refreshed business plan to be published."
Read more: First Minister takes aim at Peel Ports over 'lack of spending' on Ardrossan harbour upgrades
Ms Clark added: “It is seven years and seven transport ministers since Ardrossan won the campaign to keep the ferry service to Arran.
"As the Glen Sannox finally nears entering service, the Scottish Government must finally get its act together, make progress on the harbour and firmly commit that the vessel will be running from Ardrossan in the long term, come what may.”
Last week, the interim chief executive at Port Glasgow's Ferguson Marine yard confirmed a new date of July 31 for the handover of the Glern Sannox.
The yard's recently appointed new boss, John Petticrew, blamed the delay on a range of factors, including an underestimation of the complexity of the ferry’s liquified natural gas (LNG) propulsion system and the degree of difficulty involved in its installation.
But shipyard bosses believe the vessel is still on track to meet their previous cost forecast of between £145.5m and £149.1m.
Yard chiefs remain confident that MV Glen Rosa, which was launched earlier this month, will be delivered within her previously reported cost forecast of no more than £150m.
They also believe that the previously reported delivery date of September 2025 is still achievable for the second vessel.
Two weeks ago, First Minister Humza Yousaf told the Herald that Ardrossan harbour's owners, Peel Ports, should "put their hands in their pockets" to fix the harbour, as the wait continued for the results of a review into the cost of major upgrades needed to allow CalMac's new Arran ferries to use the facility.
Peel Ports insisted it had ploughed £2m into the harbour facilities, and said it remained committed to the Ardrossan upgrade project.
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