Glen Sannox sailings to resume after crack repair

Sailings on the new Glen Sannox ferry will resume two days after crack was found in the ship’s hull.

CalMac confirmed it would return to service with the 14:50 sailing from Brodick after repairs and testing were successfully completed.

The welding work was carried out on Saturday, following an assessment by divers, and it underwent a fresh examination earlier.

The brand new vessel only began operating in January after being delivered almost seven years late and costing more than four times the original contract price.

A CalMac spokesperson added: “We are grateful to the vessel’s crew, our local port staff, plus the dive and repair teams for their speedy response to this issue.”

Sailings on the vessel have been cancelled since Friday when the fault was found.

The ferry operates on a route between Troon and Brodick on the Isle of Arran.

The MV Alfred has operated extra sailings to provide cover and the operator said the “vast majority” of booked customers had been able to travel.

CalMac previously said reports that the boat had hit the harbour or that water was leaking into the car deck were “categorically untrue”.

However, it confirmed that a “very small amount of water” had entered part of the rear of the ship near the steering gear.

The order for Glen Sannox and another ship were placed with the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow nearly a decade ago.

But disputes over the design and claims for extra costs saw the shipyard fall into administration, and then be nationalised in 2019.

The ships have ended up costing more than four times the £97m contract price.