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 action unavailableThe 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/)