Glen-Sannox

The return of the 'Glen Sannox' on the route Troon-Brodick, had to be delayed another time until March 5, due to additional warranty works during the overhaul works.. The vessel will now require additional technical inspections, before returning to service on March 6. The ferry 'Alfred' was operating an amended timetable on the route Troon – Brodick up to Feb 28, and the 'Caledonian Isles' was to operate services from Ardrossan. A two-vessel service to and from Arran was expected to operate with the return to service of the 'Glen Sannox' and the 'Caledonian Isles' serving Ardrossan-Brodick.

The 'Glen Sannox’s annual refit took three weeks but the extra repairs at Birkenhead have extended its absence to four months. The ferry wa now not expected back on the Troon to Brodick route, until March 2. New steelwork was being added in order to temporarily fix vibrations, which had caused a crack in the hull, while the cooling system has been laboriously cleaned of contaminants. Anchor equipment was also being replaced after a fault was found during testing. The ferry’s propellers are expected to be replaced as a permanent fix for the vibration problem in the annual overhaul 2017. The 'Glen Sannox' was completed by the Ferguson Marine shipyard in Nov 2024, six-and-a-half years late and some four times over budget. There were also worries about its still-incomplete sister vessel 'Glen Rosa', which is due to be finished by the end of 2026 to join rhe 'Glen Sannox' on the Troon route.

Due to a technical issue with a generator aboard the 'Glen Sannox', which was being investigated, the scheduled departure from Brodick on Oct 28 at 3.30 p.m. was delayed. After troubleshoting. the ferry was being loaded and due to depart as soon as possible. The 'Glen Sannox' departed for the annual overhaul on Nov 5. The vessel operated the following sailings before departing: Departure  Troon - 06:45 a.m.; Departure  Brodick - 08:55 a.m. On Nov 7 the ferry was degassed at Inchgreen in Greenock. To allow safe access to the system, this process involved a visible flame which was closely managed and did not pose a risk. A complex scope of work has been scheduled. Therefore the previously published overhaul duration for the vessel could be extended. The 'Alfred' will operate an amended Troon-Brodick timetable from Nov 6. If the 'Glen Sannox' completes the overhauls before Dec 28, she will return to service on the route Troon-Brodick.

The overhaul of the 'Glen Sannox' was scheduled to begin on Nov 10. The vessel will leave the Arran service on Nov 5 to allow for preparations at the Inchgreen dock before the transit to Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. While there, a programme of maintenance and improvement work will take place, including measures to reduce the effects of vibration identified during operation. The scope of work is complex, and although every effort will be made to complete it as quickly as possible, the vessel may remain out of service for longer than the planned three-and-a-half-week window and return date of Dec 10. For planning purposes, services on the main Arran route will assume operation of the 'Caledonian Isles' operating from Ardrossan and MV Alfred operating from Troon until Dec 28, however, this is likely to change once there is a clearer picture of how long the work will take. If the 'Glen Sannox' completes overhaul before Dec 28, she will return to service on Troon-Brodick. The 'Caledonian Isles' is scheduled to go for her own annual maintenance from Jan 4, 2026, and vessel deployment across the network will be reviewed again nearer to that time.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, suffered a hull crack on Oct 5, with a previous repair that required investigating. The departures from Brodick at 2:50 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. and from Troon at 5 p.m. were cancelled. On Oct 6, the previously advised timetable was further amended, and additional sailings werel offered by the 'Caledonian Isles', which was still operating a phased return to service. Due to the ongoing technical issue affecting the Glen Sannox', which proceeded to the Ingreen Dock in Greenock for emergency repairs on Oct 6, Shore based engineers and a surveyor attended the ship. The ferry 'Alfred' operated an amended timetable since Oct 7, with departures from Brodick at 07:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and from Troon at 10:00 a.m., 1:35 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. Passengers were also offered sail via 'Ardrossan' after the return of the 'Caledonian Isle' to service after 20 months repairs. While the welding had to cool down, the 'Alfred' continued tol operate a single vessel timetable until Oct 13 with the repairs still ongoing and the vessel remaiing out of service. Departures from Brodick were at 07:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and from Troon at 10:00 a.m., 1:45 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. CalMac conducted discussions with engineering experts regarding an adequate solution to the identified issues. The ferry completed repairs successfully on Oct13 and operated a single vessel service on the Troon-Brodick route. The new defect had appeared to be in way of the weld repair, which was completed in March. The repairs were estimated to take 24 hours once the work started. The repair completed in March was agreed as a temporary repair, which was subject to a planned full and permanent repair in the scheduled 2025-26 annual overhaul maintenance period. An investigation will be completed to establish the root cause of this defect recurrence. The ferry was out of service for two days in March after a 13 centimetres defect was found in its hull close to the waterline. This included a 2.5 centimetres section that had let in a small amount of water.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, suffered a technical issue on Oct 5, with a previous repair that required investigating. The departures from Brodick at 2:50 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. and from Troon at 5 p.m. were cancelled. On Oct 6, the previously advised timetable was further amended, and additional sailings werel offered by the 'Caledonian Isles', which was still operating a phased return to service with the following sailings: http://calm.ac/05

The Calmac ferries 'Glen Sannox' and Loch Shira' assisted the HM Coastguard, responding to the 10-m-fishing vessel 'Spitfire - LH 107' (MMSI: 232003712) in distress, on Sep 10 at 11.35 a.m. Also the Troon RNLI all weather lifeboat, Largs RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 were mobilized to the scene just north of Little Cumbrae Island. Coastguard rescue teams from Cumbrae, Greenock and Largs were also sent to assist. The helicopter winched the two people on board from the sinking trawler and flew them to Largs Yacht Haven, where they were checked over by ambulance crew and released. The ferry was stood down by the Coastguard and resumed service with the 1:30 p.m. departure from Cumbrae. The RNLI lifeboat 'R.A. Wilson', with a four member volunteer crew on board, capsized during the response in the Firth of Clyde.. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat overturned on its way to the accident site, sending the rescue volunteers into the water. The crew was able to quickly right the lifeboat and get back onboard. They were then escorted back to the lifeboat station by other crews attending the emergency. The four RNLI volunteers were assessed paramedics and no injuries were reported, however the lifeboat was damaged. The RNLI has sent a relief lifeboat to the area while the original undergoes repairs. The RNLI started carrying out an investigation in conjunction with the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) into the incident. A notice to mariners (NTM 26/2025) has been issued by Peel Ports, advising vessels not to anchor or fish in the area until the wreck’s exact location has been confirmed. Although it’s not yet known what caused the 'Spitfire' to sink, it was feared one of its wooden planks may have given way, leading to water ingress. The 'Spitfire' was launched in 1974 at Dunbar in East Lothian, and was the second last boat to be built at the town’s boatyard, Weatherhead and Blackie, before it closed two years later. The trawler remained at the harbour for 50 years until being sold in 2024 and then sailed north and through the Caledonian Canal on its way to new owners on the west coast. It was trawling for prawns in waters north of Little Cumbrae island on its last voyage.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, suffered a technical issue impacting the gyro compass system early on Sep 16. As a consequence, the scheduled 06:30 a.m. departure from Troon departed at 07:15 a.m., 45 minutes late, with an ETA in Brodick as of 08:30 a.m.. This also resulted in a delay to the 08:40 a.m. departure from Brodick. Passengers were, hjowever, asked to check in as normal.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, suffered an issue with the clam doors on Sepe 2. As a consequence, the scheduled 1:00 p.m. sailing departing Brodick was delayed. A further update was to be provided as soon as more information becomes available.

Due to a technical issue on the 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, the passenger gangway was unavailable on Aug 20. As a result, foot passengers have been required to embark and disembark via the car deck at Troon until further notice.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodic, suffered an electrical issue impacting the ship's firefighting system on the morning of July 1. As a consqeuence, the scheduled departures frrom Troon at 06:30 a.m. and from Brodick at 08:40 a.m. were cancelled. While the issue could be resolved., in order to allow sufficient crew compensatory rest following overnight repairs, the ship returned to service with the 10:50 a.m. sailing from Troon.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, reported a medical emergency on board on June 30. As a consequence, the ferry, which had left Troon as scheduled at 3:10 p.m., returned to the port to disembark the patient. The ferry departed Troon again at 3:50 p.m. and was due to arrive in Brodick at 5:10 p.m.

The 'Glen Sannox', serving on the route Troon-Brodick, suffered a technical issue with the passenger gangway on June 5, which was currently unavailable. As a result foot passengers were required to embark and disembark via the car deck at Troon. This meant a delay for foot passengers disembarking the vessel. Bus connections in Troon have been made aware and were awaiting passengers. Contractors will be attending on June 9, after service, to look at carrying out a temporary repair to the gangway, with plans for a permanent fix made a priority. Due to an issue with the 'Glen Sannox' starboard main engine the sane foremidday, the vessel had to operate at reduced speed. The issue has since been resolved, and the vessel was operating at full speed again, but arrival in to Brodick was at risk to be delayed. On June 8, the issue has been resolved, and traffic was loaded for the 12:40 p.m. sailing departing Troon.