UK cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment Alex Neil has recently confirmed Clyde-based Ferguson Shipbuilders as the preferred bidder to build a world''s first in environmentally friendly ferries. On Amsterdam's IJ River, hybrid ferries powered by VACON drives enjoy 24/7 uptime, smaller generator size, improved air quality, less noise and easy maneuverability. Scotland's ferries network . The vessels are fully compliant with the European safety rules and standards for passenger ships, applicable to sea going vessels, allowing them to operate in areas that are out with the capabilities of vessels designed to operate solely in UK categorized waters. Plans to add new ferries to CalMac's fleet have since floundered: a tender to build two hybrid ferries at the Ferguson Marine shipbuilders on the Clyde has been mired in bitter contractual disputes. Bast Electric is the first of three battery-powered ferries operated by the shipping company Bast Fosen to enter Norwegian waters with more in the making in Turkey. Three hybrid roll-on/roll-off ferries are in operation on the west coast of Scotland. Transport Scotland is responsible for legislation, policy and guidance relating to Scotland's ferries. We are also looking at the possibility of using energy from local wind, wave or solar systems to charge the batteries, making the process even more environmentally friendly. It is expected to come into service between Skye and Raasay next summer, following fitting out, testing and certification. C-Job will design fully-electric RoPax for Saronic Ferries; CEO Spotlight: John Waterhouse, founder & principal of Elliott Bay Design Group; EBDG-designed hybrid-electric ferry for Casco Bay enters construction; Knud E. Hansen joins wind-powered RO/RO project; Engines & Fuel. So when GVB ordered 2 new ferries from . Read our policy. However, only electric motors are used for propulsion. . Over the next few years we have an ambitious programme of fleet renewal and we are committed to leading the way in innovative, sustainable ferry design. Find the perfect hybrid ferries stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. The project is being supported by a Scottish government loan and additional funding of 450,000 from the European Regional Development Fund. _NID Both hybrid ferries have been funded through Caledonian Maritime Assets, which owns the ports and vessels used by CalMac on the Clyde and west of Scotland. It only takes a minute to sign up for afree account and youll get to enjoy: Ready to subscribe? The contract, worth 97 million, will see FMEL undertake the detailed design and construction work of the new vessels in Scotland, as well as their testing, equipping, launching and delivery. It expires after 10 minutes. In February 2011 the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Keith Brown confirmed Scottish Government funding to CMAL for the Low Emission Hybrid Ferries Project, which has seen the worlds first sea going Roll On Roll Off vehicle and passenger diesel electric hybrid ferries being designed and built in Scotland. /> X. Trending. Lightboxes. This new vessel will be fuel efficient and have lower . After delivering the hybrid ferry Gaarden in July 2020 and the fully electric ferry Dsternbrook, which will enter operations shortly, Holland Shipyards Group has won a contract to build three additional hybrid vessels for Schlepp- und Fhrgesellschaft Kiel (SFK). Both ferries will be owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL) and operated by CalMac Ferries. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. The ferries, which will be operated by the current operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, CalMac, are designed for use on many of the short crossing routes around the Clyde and Hebrides and will use some of the most innovative new green technology, including battery banks supplying a minimum of 20% of the energy consumed on board. The ferry can carry 150 passengers, 23 cars or two HGVs and is the third ferry built for the fleet to rely on a low-carbon hybrid system of traditional diesel power and electric lithium-ion . Hydrogen ferry designs to date have focussed on sheltered water routes. The first vessel entered into service in Autumn 2013. For an update on the build and photos and video of the launch, please click here. This machinery arrangement introduces a high level of equipment redundancy allowing the vessel to continue operation with an engine failure or no diesel fuel availability for any reason and also has the capability of operating the Sunday Raasay to Sconser service on batteries alone with zero emissions from the vessel. Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) is to build two new 100m hybrid ferries for Scotland's Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). A third hybrid ferry, MV CATRIONA, was commissioned by CMAL in September 2014, also to be built in Port Glasgow by Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd. Travel time is around 12 hours direct, and just over 14 hours via Orkney. According to Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL), the owner of ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac), berthing the first such ferries in the world on the . The first renderings of the vessel being designed by the Scottish-led HYSEAS III project have been released. This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The two revolutionary passenger and car ferries will each carry up to 150 passengers and 23 cars or two HGVs and provide a vital ferry service for a group of remote islands off the west . Pictured below, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure & Capital Investment Alex Neil, Duncan McNeil, MSP Greenock & Inverclyde, Guy Platten our previous CEO, Richard Deans MD, Fergusons and Raymond Brown Production Manager, Fergusons gathered at Ferguson Shipyard, Port Glasgow to announce the contract being awarded in November 2011. Read an update on the build of MV Catriona. _GPS The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors. Hull 801 and Hull 802, as they were known, were expected to be delivered in mid-2018. Our exclusive photographs, taken last week, show the ferries streaked with rust, already needing . In a rare reversal of fortunes for the UK shipbuilding industry, Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow, Scotland has been selected to build the world's first two sea-going ro-ro diesel electric hybrid ferries. Hybrid Ferries and Port Infrastructure. From analysis and figures obtained during trials and operations of MV HALLAIG, the hybrid vessels are capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 38% compared to a conventionally powered vessel of the same size. The MV Hallaig is a diesel-electric hybrid ferry. Three hybrid roll-on/roll-off ferries are in operation on the west coast of Scotland.They were launched between December 2012 and December 2015.. California, United States. The first of two pioneering "hybrid" ferries has been launched by the deputy first minister from the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. They are being built as part of the Low Emission Hybrid Ferries Project. NorthLink Ferries operate nightly car ferries from Aberdeen in the north east to Lerwick in Shetland, with stops en route on alternative days at Orkney's main port, Kirkwall. The new vessels will use the Olympic Class hull form, one of the most efficient in the fleet, with less drag through the water and a small wake, for a positive environmental impact. This cookie is used to signal to the code repository website if the user has browsed other website resources during the current session. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. When changing to hybrid ferries to and from Alcatraz Island in California, the National Park Service has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 700,000 pounds. We also use third-party cookies that help us understand and analyse how you use this website. The EU-funded HYSEAS III programme involves partners Caledonian . The vessels are said to be the world's first sea-going roll-on roll-off vehicle and passenger diesel-electric hybrid ferries. This includes the language of the website or the location of the visitor. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 4.8 stars - based on reviews. Since early 2015, a mid-sized car ferry, the MS Ampere, has been traversing the Sognefjord in western Norway from early morning to evening, seven days a week without a whiff of smokestack exhaust or a decibel of engine roar.The 260-foot Ampere, which carries 120 cars and 360 passengers, is the one of world's first modern, electric-powered commercial ships, with battery and motor . Proposed Routes. Ferry passenger numbers increased by 6% from 9.7 to 10.3 million between 2014 and 2018. Jim McColl believes the ferries will cost at least 300m and ferry expert Roy Pederson says it would be better to scrap them and start again. This project has provided a fantastic commercial opportunity for Scotland and shows how, as a nation, we are leading the way in cutting edge ship design and build. iPhone 14 Pro wins with substance over sizzle this year; This site uses cookies. For the tests (harbor docking trials) was used the Norled-owned hybrid ferry Folgefonn and Wartsila-manufactured wireless charging system. After a gap of two years, CalMac Ferries Ltd. (Scotland) built two ships [46,47] in 2012 and 2013. DThe special thing about the ferry Farge is that it is now operated using a hybrid system. National Park Service. "This will be the third hybrid ferry for the CalMac fleet, showing that Scotland remains at the forefront of ferry design and innovation. WSF hosted an Industry Day for interested firms on Oct. 6, 2022, prior to the release of the Request for Proposals (RFP . The ferries, are operated by the current operator , CalMac Ferries Ltd, and are designed for use on many of the short crossing routes around the Clyde and Hebrides and uses some of the most innovative new green technology, including battery banks supplying a minimum of 20% of the energy consumed on board. +47 41 28 61 50. It is costing 12.3 million and launched in December 2015 and enter service in the summer of 2016. Why we know so little about the battle for Kherson. September 3, 2012. The vessels will each accommodate 150 passengers and 23 cars and will be powered by battery banks and a small diesel generator . [6], The Danish ferry operator Scandlines operates 6 hybrid ferries as of 2021. Electrical Engineering and Consultancy Services. Retrieved from, "Third hybrid ferry launches on the Clyde", "Ferguson Marine launch hybrid ferry on the Clyde", http://www.nps.gov/goga/naturescience/sustainable-alcatraz.htm, "Washington State Ferries 2040 Long Range Plan", "Scandlines outfited its ferry with rotor sail", "Stena Line introducing battery-electric operation to ferry; three stages up to 50 all-electric nautical miles", "Verdens strste batterihybride ferge: Hele 18 av 25 leverandrer er norske", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hybrid_ferry&oldid=1040476960, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2019, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 24 August 2021, at 19:45. This cookie is set by YouTube to track views of embedded videos. 2022 CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. All rights reserved. MV Hallaig is the first commercial ship in more than five years to be fully built and delivered on the Clyde. Diesel Electric hybrid built in 2012 by Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow. A third hybrid ferry, MV CATRIONA, was commissioned by CMAL in September 2014, also to be built in Port Glasgow by Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd. The vessel design and power configuration will additionally realise 19-24% savings of power input to the propulsion units over a conventional diesel mechanical solution reducing Carbon Dioxide, Sulphur Oxide and Nitrous Oxide emissions. . The 135-tonne Hallaig is nearly 150ft long and will accommodate 150 passengers, 23 cars or two heavy goods vehicles. MV Catriona was launched by Mrs Anna stergaard, wife of our Chair, Erik stergaard, on Friday 11th December at 11am. The ferries, which will be operated by the current operator of the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services, CalMac, are designed for use on many of the short crossing routes . andre-luiz.silva@no.abb.com. You always get the cheapest available Scotland ferry ticket price when booking online at FerryTO - and that's a guarantee. Advertisement cookies help us provide our visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. (2014). Washington State Ferries (WSF), the largest ferry system in the US, has partnered with Vigor to build five 144-car hybrid-electric ferries! NORTHLINK FERRIES (Scotland) Serco NORTHLINK FERRIES (fleet, northlinkferries.co.uk, . In addition 2 lithium-ion battery banks with a total of 700kWh will also be able supply power to the units reducing fuel and CO2 consumption by at least 20%. Analytics cookies help us understand how our visitors interact with the website. European Regional Development Fund grant for the hybrid ferries: total value 450k; Scottish Enterprise Hydrogen Ferry Study Total Value 32k; 19. Ferries CMAL owns 37 ferries. The Ferguson Group is working with Glasgow-based ship design specialists Seatec and electrical specialists Tec-Source to deliver the ferries. Enterprise. Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow, Scotland worked alongside Glasgow based ship design specialists Seatec and electrical specialists Tec-Source to fit out the two original hybrid ferries. They are expected to enter service next year. Examples Scotland. The first of which, the MV HALLAIG, was launched by Scotlands Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, on 17th December 2012. BBC Homepage. She was the first ship to be fully built and delivered on the Clyde in over five years, and one of two hybrid ferries to combine diesel electric and lithium-ion battery power. When changing to hybrid ferries to and from Alcatraz Island in California, the National Park Service has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 700,000 pounds. The ferry is designed to carry 600 passengers with an operating speed at 12 knots. Scottish Island hopping by plane Hybrid ferry with Baumller drive system. [2][3], When changing to hybrid ferries to and from Alcatraz Island in California, the National Park Service has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 700,000 pounds. . Slide 1Hybrid Ferries and Port Infrastructure 18/02/2011Hybrid ferries: the opportunity for Scotland1 Slide 2 Proposed Routes 1.Sconser - Raasay 2.Tarbert (Loch Fyne) - It does so by drawing power from a photovoltaic system that uses 959 photovoltaic panels that are located on the cell house roof power on the island. This cookie carries out information about how the end user uses the website and any advertising that the end user may have seen before visiting the said website. The Bast Electric is 139.2-metre-long and 21-metre-wide and was . Significant fuel savings, minimal emissions, and improved maneuverability. Welcome to motorship.com. The design of the three vessels is in line with the Gaarden. Current solicitations Hybrid electric Olympic Class vessels. Owned by Highland Council and operated by CFL Widening of the slipway is required at Sconser So when GVB ordered 2 new ferries from . The world's first hybrid ferries will be built in Scotland, creating 100 jobs. There are no accessibility issues for passengers with reduced mobility. The ferry has its own photovoltaic panel and wind turbine on top that helps power the vessel. The investment and the build of the first two ferries at Fergusons in Port Glasgow helped to support 175 jobs and 20 apprenticeships in the local community and supported the growth of the Inverclyde economy. Sustainable alcatraz. _YSC In comparisonCompared to all of that, CalMac's three diesel-hybrid ferries appear just a bit outdated, never mind the continuing crisis affecting its broken-down diesel-fuelled MV Loch Seaforth . Up to 30 percent savings in fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions for CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd) hybrid ferry service for the Clyde and Hebrides in Scotland, Deliveries planned between . CMAL are also looking at the possibility of using energy from local wind, wave or solar systems to charge the batteries, making the process even more environmentally friendly. The world's first two RoRo vehicle and passenger diesel electric hybrid ferries Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has announced Ferguson Low Emissions Hybrid Ferries project - SAFETY4SEA Subscribe to our Mailing Lists (It's free!) . The world's largest all-electric ferry yet has gone into service in Norway on a route across the Oslo Fjord. The Scottish government is funding a project to create hybrid ferries. The team was originally responsible for the concept design and production of a Technical Requirements . Scandlines (Denmark) . The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. She's named after a poem by Sorley MacLean. Ministers said the cash had secured 75 jobs and created about 100 more, including 20 apprentice shipbuilders. The new Wightlink hybrid ferry has been launched from Cemre shipyard, Yalova in Turkey. The cost of each hybrid is 2m more . So if you're travelling from the continent: going via England is a reasonable alternative, preferably sailing to a port in the north east England to minimise driving time. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Each ferry accommodates 150 passengers, 23 cars or 2 HGVs, with a service speed of nine knots and is powered by small diesel generator sets, feeding power to a 400 volt switchboard, which, supplies power to electric propulsion motors that turn the propulsion units. CMAL . The Motorships Propulsion & Future Fuels is the leading international conference on powering shippings emissions-cutting ambitions. This means that the ferry is equipped with three diesel engines, which act as . Each ferry will be designed to accommodate 150 passengers, 23 cars or 2 HGVs, with a service speed of nine knots and will be powered by small diesel generator sets, feeding power to a 400 volt switchboard, which will supply power to electric propulsion motors that turn the propulsion units. The Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work made a statement on . This video from Imtech about the Energy Management Technology being used. VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE Want to read more before deciding on asubscription? The MV HALLAIG entered service in November 2013, serving communities on Skye and Raasay, with the MV LOCHINVAR, entering service in December 2013 serving the Tarbert to Portavadie route. Two new hybrid LNG-electric ships are coming to the Brittany Ferries fleet. As well as significantly cutting emissions, the hybrids will deliver less noise, less vibration for passengers and a step towards future-proofing the company. ports and harbours and infrastructure necessary for vital ferry services serving the west coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary. . The hybrid passenger ferry measures 43.5m in length and 12.2m in breadth. In February 2011 the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Keith Brown confirmed Scottish Government funding to Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) for the Low Emission Hybrid Ferries Project, which will see the development of the worlds first sea going Roll On Roll Off vehicle and passenger diesel electric hybrid ferries in Scotland. All three hybrid ferries use a low carbon hybrid system that combines traditional diesel power with electric battery energy. The number of vehicles that ferries carried, which includes cars, commercial vehicles and busses, increased by 12% from 3.0 to 3.5 million in the same period. In Shetland, inter-island ferry travel is operated by the council, while Orkney Ferries connect the archipelago's 13 island destinations. This cookie is set by DoubleClick (which is owned by Google) to help build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites. They were launched between December 2012[1] and December 2015. Ferries to Orkney and Shetland. The ferries, are operated by the current operator , CalMac Ferries Ltd, and are designed for use . . As part of the inquiry, the Committee considered the updated timetable and costs associated with the completion of two new hybrid ferries to serve the Clyde and Hebrides ferries network, set out in the Ferguson Marine Programme Review Board report, which was published by the Scottish Government on 18 December 2019.. The shocking condition of Scotland's delayed 200 million superferries can be revealed today. Houlder has been working with Wightlink on the G Class vessel, designed for operation between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight, for over five years. The battery banks will be charged overnight from the mains. The Hallaig was constructed at the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow. _gat Scottish designers, engineers and shipbuilders are assembling the world's first hybrid seagoing Ro-Pax ferries. Choose from one of oursubscription packages for unlimited access! In addition, two lithium-ion battery banks with a total of 700kWh also supply power to the units.. "Our 20m investment has provided the support needed to produce here on the banks of the Clyde, the world's first seagoing passenger and vehicle roll-on roll-off ferries to use a low-carbon hybrid system of diesel electric and battery power. Read an update on the build of MV Catriona, https://cmassets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Imtech_0765_Greenaward_V7.flv, Imtech Marine Hybrid Ferries Build Video Presentation (WMV, 6MB), CMAL Hybrid Ferry Presentation (PDF, 4MB), 101-01-Rev.8-General Arrangement (PDF, 1.3MB), DESIGN CONSULTANT APPOINTED FOR GOUROCK FERRY TERMINAL UPGRADE, GROUND INVESTIGATION WORK SET TO BEGIN AT FERRY TERMINALS, LOCHBOISDALE LINKSPAN REPAIRS COMPLETED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, 17/02/2012Hybrid Ferry Technical Information (DOC, 25KB). This cookie is installed by Google Analytics. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. It is costing 12.3 million and launched in December 2015 and enter service in the summer of 2016. UK cabinet secretary for infrastructure and capital investment Alex Neil has recently confirmed Clyde-based Ferguson Shipbuilders as the preferred bidder to build a world''s first in environmentally friendly ferries. The Committee will take into account the updated timetable and costs associated with the completion of two new hybrid ferries to serve the Clyde and Hebrides ferries network, set out in the Ferguson Marine Programme Review Board report, which was published by the Scottish Government on 18th December 2019 Our ferries to Scotland offer the perfect opportunity to bring your caravan or motorhome along for a holiday, without having to leave your home comforts behind. Alternatively REGISTER for website access and sign up for email alerts. Since the SNP took power in 2007, the rate at which new vessels are produced has more than halved. _IDE With capacity for 1,500 passengers and 550 cars . VideoWhy we know so little about the battle for Kherson, Bridge that became a death trap for Indian children, Why the latest UN climate conference matters. ", Imran Khan: Shock at attack on Pakistan ex-PM, How Imran Khan's comeback ended in shooting, At the front line of Ukraine's struggle for Kherson, The conspiracy theorists who could run US elections, Aboriginal boy's killing puts spotlight on racism, Why we know so little about the battle for Kherson. Hybrid Ferry Project Takes Shape in Scotland. Shetland's inter-island ferries are run in conjunction with the . Thirty-two vessels are leased to CalMac Ferries Ltd on routes to the islands and peninsulas of the west of Scotland. According to the Scottish government, Ferguson Shipbuilders won a $32 million (20 million) contract to build the world's first hybrid ferries. The project will provide a fantastic commercial opportunity for Scotland and show how, as a nation, we are leading the way in innovative ferry design. Ferguson Shipbuilders in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, won a 22 million contract to build two diesel-electric and battery-powered ferries. They will operate 100% on electric power, once the charging infrastructure . MV Hebridean Isles. Clyde and Hebrides Islands, CMAL is the Statutory Harbour Authority and owner of 16 ports and harbours in the Firth of Clyde and around the Hebrides, and owns and leases properties and port infrastructure at 10 other locations w. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited owns the ferries, ports and harbours and infrastructure necessary for vital ferry services serving the West coast of Scotland and the Clyde Estuary. . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In the north of Scotland . The battery banks are charged overnight from the mains. Five vessels are leased to Serco Northlink Ferries for Orkney and Shetland routes. [7] In 2019, they installed a rotor sail onto their existing hybrid passenger ship M/V Copenhagen which operates on the Rostock-Gedser route between Germany and Denmark.[8]. Preference cookies are used to store user preferences to provide them with content that is customised accordingly. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "hybridferries" Flickr tag. In December 2011, the project received additional funding of 450,000 from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). ", She added: "It is a true testament to the excellence that Clydeside engineering is famous for across the globe and underlines our ambition to see our shipbuilding industry, and the local community and its economy, reinvigorated through investment in jobs.". News quiz: What was Erling Haaland blamed for this week? That means we look after services, ports, harbours and canals across the country. The firm plans to . The draught of the ship measures 1.73m and the ship has a deadweight of 135t. Holds 150 passengers. On 29 September, the Deputy First Minister announced that a third hybrid ferry would be ordered from Ferguson Marine Engineering. "Today is a great day for Clyde shipbuilding, and a great day for Scotland. The ferry services, discount schemes and routes managed by Transport Scotland. Three hybrid roll-on/roll-off ferries are in operation on the west coast of Scotland. Read about our approach to external linking. Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and Ferguson Shipbuilders, Port Glasgow, Scotland, have signed the shipbuilding contracts to build the first two sea going RoRo vehicle and passenger diesel electric hybrid ferries. Based on the collected data of various pure electric/hybrid ferries operating in different regions of the world and the case studies, we found that Norway, Denmark, and Scotland are the leading countries for green energy . The Request for Information (RFI) for a new design-build contract for five hybrid electric Olympic class (HEOC) vessels is now closed, but can be viewed at the Washington State Ferries (WSF) contracting website. The number of cruise ships calling into Scottish ports has risen from 446 in 2012 to 825 in 2018. CMAL are currently working with Scottish Enterprise to procure an innovative charging infrastructure for the hybrid ferries which could be designed and built in Scotland. Thirty-two vessels are leased to CalMac Ferries Ltd on routes to the islands and peninsulas of the west of Scotland. 2022 BBC. The system is leading to a reduction in fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Read more on MV Lochinvar The operator will announce the route for MV CATRIONA in summer 2016. The third hybrid ferry provided a boost for the newly formed Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd, part of Clyde Blowers Capital, securing jobs in the shipyard, many of whom were employees of the previous owner, Fergusons and worked on the first two hybrid ferries. The cookies that are categorised as necessary are stored on your browser because they are essential for basic functionalities of the website. The redeveloped Port Glasgow shipyard which launched the World's first battery hybrid ferry in 2012, has contributed technical advice at an early stage of the study. Sconser - Raasay. "Employment has more than doubled at the yard and we have started to train apprentices again. They are outfitted with propeller systems and extended vehicle ramp arrangements allowing access to a large number of slipways throughout the west coast of Scotland in varying weather and tidal conditions. . This was followed a few months later by the second ferry, the MV LOCHINVAR, which was launched on 23rd May 2013 by Mrs Patricia Platten, wife of CMALs previous CEO, Guy Platten. If you're looking to visit the islands north of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland are connected to the mainland and each other by NorthLink Ferries.