CalMac’s hybrid ferries will wait until 2027 for new batteries, impacting operations and increasing costs
Port Glasgow: CalMac’s hybrid ferries are facing a long wait for new batteries. The MV Hallaig has been running on diesel since its battery broke in September 2023. It will have to wait until next year for a new battery, along with the MV Lochinvar.
These ferries cost £34.4 million to build and were launched between 2013 and 2016. CalMac plans to replace the batteries by April 2027. Two of the batteries will be replaced in 2026, as they have reached their expected end of life.
A CalMac spokeswoman said they started the battery replacement process in October 2022. However, the original battery manufacturer for the Hallaig and Lochinvar has ceased trading, making it challenging to find replacements.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that the three electric ferries ran up a maintenance bill of nearly £1.5 million last year. They can operate on both diesel and electric power, but servicing costs are rising as the batteries need replacing.
All three ferries operate on CalMac’s shorter Western Isles routes. Ferguson Marine, which was nationalized by the Scottish Government in 2019, is among six yards shortlisted for CalMac’s seven new electric ferries.
A spokesperson for Transport Scotland said the charging infrastructure is already in place for the existing hybrid vessels. They can also operate using conventional Marine Gas Oil if needed.
