Glen Rosa begins builder's sea trials in Firth of Clyde

The long-awaited MV Glen Rosa has begun builder’s sea trials in the Firth of Clyde, marking a “pivotal moment” in the vessel’s journey towards joining CalMac’s ferry network.

The 102-metre-long ferry will undergo rigorous testing as specialists trial the propulsion and power-generation systems and monitor safety, automation, and navigation under real sailing conditions.

Following the trials, any necessary technical refinements will be addressed by Ferguson Marine before the vessel enters the final build and evaluation phase.

In October, it was confirmed that the handover date for the Glen Rosa has been pushed back until February 2027.

Transport secretary Stephen Flynn said the delay would allow for new propellers to be installed and the LNG fuel system to be filled, preventing the need to recall the vessel at a later date.

Once these works are completed, the ferry will undergo owner’s sea trials with Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) and CalMac.

Glen Rosa’s sister vessel, the Glen Sannox, entered service with CalMac early in 2025 after years of delays.

Andrew Milligan, executive director of technical at Ferguson Marine, said: “Commencing sea trials is a pivotal moment for Glen Rosa and reflects the tremendous hard work and technical skill across our Port Glasgow shipyard.

“These trials allow us to put the ship’s integrated systems through their paces at sea, validating months of dockside testing and outfitting.

“Our team remains completely focused on producing quality work and rigorous testing, ensuring we deliver a reliable, robust vessel that will serve island communities for generations to come.”

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said: “Builder’s sea trials are an important milestone, and we welcome the progress as we near the handover of MV Glen Rosa.”