Vote opens on what to name Scotland's five-year delayed Ferguson Marine CalMac ferry

A competition has been launched to name the vessel at the centre of the Ferguson’s ferry fiasco.

Hull 802 and sister ship, Glen Sannox, are more than five years late and will cost £350m by the time the two ships have both entered service by the end of next year.

The ferries, which will sail on the Arran route, were ordered from Ferguson Marine, then-owned by Jim McColl, in 2015.

However, they have since been at the centre of a row between the pro-independence businessman and the government-owned procurement arm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), both of whom blame each other for the delays.

CMAL say the Glen Sannox will enter service by the end of 2023, but the as-yet-unnamed Hull 802 will not take to the water with passengers until summer 2024.

What could Hull 802 be named?

They have launched a public ballot to christen the vessel with a shortlist of three names bearing a nod to the local area.

The ferry will either go by Glen Cloy, after a small valley on the east coast of Arran; Glen Rosa, a glen near Goat Fell on Arran; or Claymore, from the Gaelic Claidheamh Mòr, meaning “great sword”.

Votes can be submitted online before the closing date on Wednesday, August 23.

Entrants will also be submitted into a competition to win a free return journey on one of the ferries for four passengers and a car.

CMAL chief executive, Kevin Hobbs, said: “The two ferries, Glen Sannox and Hull 802, will be a welcome addition to our Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services network – however Hull 802 is currently nameless.

“We know there’s a lot of interest in the dual fuel ferries, so we hope to see this translate into votes.”