Completion of MV Finlaggan at Remontowa shipyard Gdansk (2011)
to the pier – an operation finished by June 2010. The provision of a new dolphin and other works at Kennacraig were completed in April 2011, in time for the Finlaggan, but Port Ellen was closed for redevelopment in late March of the same year for some nine months and all sailings were temporarily routed to Port Askaig.
drydocked in March 2011 and by 7 April she had finished exhaustive and successful six-day trials. Building was completed and she was handed over to CMAL on 11 May. CMAL immediately chartered her ‘bareboat’ to CalMac Ferries Ltd. and, with a crew in place, the long voyage to Oban comenced on 19 May. After storing, the Finlaggan sailed south and was in time for her naming ceremony at Port Askaig on 25 May and subsequent entry into service. The Isle of Arran could now be employed elsewhere – a new era for the sea route to Islay had begun.
Meantime work continued apace in Gdansk. The Finlaggan was ready for launching on 30 June 2010 and fitting out followed. She was 15