CalMac MV Alfred (Charter)
West Coast of Scotland (chartered for various routes, including Arran) · Built 2019, chartered to CalMac from 2023 (with extensions) · £14.5m (construction cost), £1m/month (charter cost)
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe MV Alfred was chartered by CalMac to provide critical resilience to the ferry network, particularly during significant delays with other new builds (e.g., MV Glen Sannox). - The charter has been a subject of public and political debate due to its high monthly cost relative to the vessel's original construction cost, highlighting procurement challenges. - Despite the cost, the vessel has proven to be a reliable and valuable asset on routes like Arran, demonstrating the immediate need for dependable vessels in the fleet. - The vessel's fuel efficiency (60% less than similar vessels) showcases successful environmental engineering and a move towards greener ferry operations.
Key engineering challenges
Designing a fuel-efficient catamaran ferry for challenging Scottish waters. - Construction in an international shipyard (Vietnam) and subsequent delivery. - Adapting the vessel for CalMac's specific routes and operational requirements, including berth compatibility.
Project facts
- Client / owner
- Pentland Ferries (owner), Caledonian MacBrayne (charterer)
- Lead contractor
- Strategic Marine Vietnam (shipyard)
- Lead designers
- BMT (naval architects)
- Project type
- new build (vessel), charter (operations)
- Scale
- Catamaran ferry; 60% less fuel than similar vessels
- Disciplines
- Marine Engineering; Naval Architecture; Environmental Engineering
- Standards & frameworks
- International maritime regulations, classification society rules, UK domestic ferry regulations.
Sources: CalMac: MV Alfred (https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/the-fleet/mv-alfred/) - Wikipedia: MV Alfred (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Alfred) - BBC News: CalMac may extend £1m a month MV Alfred lease after... (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7ejyd0pmpo) - Pentland Ferries: PENTLAND FERRIES ANNOUNCES EXTENSION OF CHARTER OF MV ALFRED AND CONTINUATION OF RDS (https://pentlandferries.co.uk/pentland-ferries-announces-extension-of-charter-of-mv-alfred-and-continuation-of-rds/) - BMT: BMT designed passenger ferry, MV Alfred has won Ship of... (https://www.bmt.org/news/2020/bmt-designed-passenger-ferry-mv-alfred-has-won-ship-of-the-year-by-cruise-and-ferry-review/)