Caledonian Maritime Assets’ newest hybrid ferry floated out

A new Ro-Pax ferry slated for Scottish government-owned transportation company Caledonian Maritime Assets (CMAL) was recently launched into the water for the first time on Saturday, June 8. Loch Indaal is the second in a planned series of two Ro-Pax ferries ordered by CMAL for operation by Caledonian Macbrayne (CalMac).

The ferry will be deployed on CMAL's Clyde and Hebrides network, between Islay and Jura, alongside earlier sister vessel Isle of Islay, which was launched in March of this year. CMAL aims to increase cargo and vehicle capacity by 40 per cent on the Islay and Jura route with the newly constructed ferries, which will feature diesel hybrid propulsion systems.

Once completed, Loch Indaal will have a length of 94.8 metres, a beam of 18.7 metres, a draught of four metres, and capacity for 450 passengers and up to 107 vehicles on two decks. Design work on the new ferry was undertaken by Norwegian naval architecture firm LMG Marin in compliance to Lloyd's Register class rules.