Glen-Sannox Vessel Reviews and Specifications

On May 31, 2026, the 'Glen Sannox', which operates on the Oban - Castlebay route, encountered a technical issue concerning its bow ramp while docked at the port of Oban. This problem prompted immediate investigations and caused a delay for the scheduled 1:30 p.m. departure to Castlebay. After necessary repairs were conducted, the ferry was able to set off, with an estimated arrival time at Castlebay around 7:40 p.m. Additionally, on June 3, the 'Glen Sannox' arrived in Brodick for essential maintenance and testing scheduled at Troon in the days ahead. The ferry remained out of service but did not disrupt the existing timetables for other vessels.

On April 8 at midday, a technical problem that had affected the 'Glen Sannox' ferry, which operates on the Troon to Brodick route, has been successfully fixed. To accommodate passenger needs during this period, a temporary schedule was implemented: departing Troon at 1:00 p.m. and arriving in Brodick by 2:15 p.m., followed by a departure from Brodick at 3:10 p.m. and arrival back at Troon at 4:25 p.m. With the technical issues resolved, the 'Glen Sannox' is set to resume its regular summer timetable, enhancing the travel options for passengers.

The residents of Arran have been facing significant disruptions for a third consecutive day as the arrival of the replacement ferry 'Alfred' was delayed, leaving them without a reliable ferry service. Originally scheduled to take over from the 'Glen Sannox', the 'Alfred' was unable to commence operations on April 8 due to late arrival after its annual maintenance. The chartered catamaran was supposed to serve the Troon to Brodick route, but it returned to the Clyde from Birkenhead in Merseyside later than planned, causing a series of cancellations. Crew members were unable to operate the vessel without a night watch, leading to an enforced rest period as mandated by maritime regulations. As a result, crucial sailings, including the 'Alfred's' 11:50 a.m. voyage from Brodick and the 2 p.m. departure from Troon, were canceled, leaving passengers stranded for the remainder of the day. Many were rerouted or transferred via bus to Ardrossan, where sailings to Brodick continued as scheduled. The 'Alfred', a vessel chartered from the Orkney-based Pentland Ferries, has been filling in for CalMac for three years amid ongoing struggles with the operator's fleet reliability. Due to multiple ferries out of service simultaneously—either through breakdowns or scheduled refurbishments—CalMac has stated that a review of the entire fleet deployment is underway. An announcement regarding service updates across its network was anticipated on the afternoon of April 7, with no confirmation about the 'Alfred's' ability to resume operations on April 9.

The 'Glen Sannox', the ferry operating between Troon and Brodick, faced ongoing engine troubles on March 26. Spare parts arrived for repairs, allowing the vessel to depart Troon at approximately 3:00 p.m. and resume its service. Unfortunately, the port side main engine experienced another failure, forcing the cancellation of the scheduled 7:20 p.m. departure from Brodick. As a result, the ferry navigated back to Troon at a reduced speed and was put out of service for further maintenance. Compounding the situation, the ferry encountered issues with a flexible coupling within its exhaust system. Although a quick repair permitted it to return for one sailing, the problem recurred, necessitating the ferry's withdrawal until March 31 for comprehensive fixes and inspections, aimed at ensuring its availability for the busy Easter weekend. In addition, a separate issue concerning an engine warning light, which had arisen shortly after the vessel's annual maintenance in Merseyside, was believed to have been resolved. CalMac attributed this complication to incorrect oil levels and an electrical fault, which have since been corrected. However, due to the persistent main engine problems, all sailings remained canceled for the time being. Looking ahead, the 'Glen Sannox' is scheduled for further trials on April 2, and if those trials prove successful, the ferry will resume service with a 1:05 p.m. sailing from Troon.

On March 20, the 'Glen Sannox', which operates the Troon-Brodick route, encountered a mechanical setback with its port side main engine, prompting an immediate suspension of services. The cancellation stemmed from the activation of the oil mist detector within the port engine room. As a result, the anticipated sailings from Troon at 06:30 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. were cancelled, along with the 07:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. departures from Brodick. Travelers on the Ardrossan-Brodick route faced significant capacity constraints and were recommended to consider alternate travel options, including foot passenger services or the Claonaig-Loch Ranza route. Fortunately, the engine issue was rectified by March 21; however, the 03:50 p.m. sailing from Troon and the 06:00 p.m. departure from Brodick were still under threat of cancellation due to foggy conditions affecting both ports.

The 'Glen Sannox', a key ferry serving the Troon to Brodick route, encountered significant engine problems on March 16, prompting an immediate investigation. As a result, the ferry's scheduled departures from Troon at 10:20 a.m. and from Brodick at 12:30 p.m. were cancelled. Engineers worked diligently to rectify the issues, performing sea trials to assess the vessel's readiness. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing technical difficulties, the 07:15 a.m. departure from Brodick on March 17 was also scrapped. Furthermore, sailings from Troon at 10:20 a.m. and from Brodick at 12:30 p.m. were similarly cancelled, with the 3:50 p.m. service from Troon and the 6:00 p.m. departure from Brodick facing potential last-minute cancellations. This resulted in the suspension of the ferry service between Troon and Brodick for a consecutive day. The latest complication emerged after fitting a spare part, as alarms for the port main engine's oil mist detector activated once more en route to Troon. Despite the sea trials, issues with the port side main engine persisted, leading to the 'Glen Sannox' being sidelined again in Troon on March 18. The ferry resumed sea trials at approximately 4:45 p.m. before returning for overnight berthing. To accommodate passengers impacted by the disruptions on both the 'Glen Sannox' and the 'Caledonia Isles', shuttle buses were organized from Ardrossan and Troon, departing at various times throughout the evening: 3:10 p.m., 5:50 p.m., and 8:30 p.m. from Ardrossan, and 5:05 p.m. from Troon.

Ferguson Marine has unveiled the root cause of the hull cracking experienced by its vessel, the 'Glen Sannox', along with comprehensive engineering modifications aimed at preventing similar problems in the future. This proactive approach also extends to the ship's sister vessel, the 'Glen Rosa' (IMO: 9794525). The investigation pinpointed propeller cavitation as the culprit behind the structural damage, necessitating both reinforcement of the hull and a redesign of the propellers. The hull crack, measuring 20 mm, was discovered as a consequence of vibration that occurred when the ship maneuvered astern. Propeller cavitation is characterized by the formation of bubbles around the propeller blades, which collapse as they shift through the water, generating vibration and exerting pressure on the hull. Acting swiftly, Ferguson Marine initiated repair work on the 'Glen Sannox' and launched a thorough examination to identify the underlying causes. After confirming the issue, the vessel was dry docked for urgent repairs. The analysis revealed that excessive cavitation was the root problem, leading to a two-pronged solution for remediation. The first phase involved reinforcing the hull with additional steel to counteract the harmful vibrations and prevent any recurrence of the cracking. This crucial work was undertaken when the ship entered dry dock over the Christmas period. The second phase focuses on re-engineering the propeller design to minimize cavitation. The redesigned propellers have received independent validation and testing, including model basin experiments in Austria aimed at ensuring effectiveness during astern operations. Manufacturing of these new propellers is anticipated to take around six months. In the interim, the already-installed structural reinforcements are expected to enable safe operations for the 'Glen Sannox'. The added steel has successfully mitigated the hull vibrations, significantly reducing the risk of further cracks. Moreover, insights gained from the hull cracking episode on the 'Glen Sannox' are being applied to the ongoing construction of the 'Glen Rosa', ensuring that similar steel reinforcements are in place to preemptively address any potential issues. The financial impact of the recent repairs on the 'Glen Sannox' has surpassed £1 million. However, this investigation has yielded a clearer understanding of the cavitation issue, along with a validated technical solution. Ferguson Marine is optimistic that the combination of enhanced structural support and the new propeller design will effectively eliminate the vibration problems that led to the initial cracking.

The long-awaited return of the 'Glen Sannox' ferry on the Troon-Brodick route has been postponed once again to March 5, 2024. This delay is a result of unforeseen additional warranty work required during the ongoing overhaul of the vessel. Before rejoining service, the 'Glen Sannox' will undergo further technical inspections to ensure its readiness for operation. In the meantime, the ferry 'Alfred' had been managing an adjusted timetable for the Troon-Brodick route until February 28, while the 'Caledonian Isles' has been designated to provide ferry services from Ardrossan. With the anticipated return of the 'Glen Sannox,' it is expected that a two-ferry operation will resume on the Isle of Arran route, with both the 'Glen Sannox' and 'Caledonian Isles' servicing the Ardrossan-Brodick route.

The repair saga of the 'Glen Sannox' continues as the annual maintenance originally scheduled for just three weeks has now stretched into a significant four-month yard stay at Birkenhead. With the ferry's return to the Troon to Brodick route postponed until March 2, 2024, additional repairs have become necessary. Crew members are currently addressing vibration issues that led to a hull crack, which involve the installation of new steelwork as an interim solution. The ferry's cooling system is undergoing thorough cleaning to remove contaminants, while the anchor equipment is being replaced following a fault identified during testing. For a long-term remedy, the ferry's propellers are slated for replacement during the comprehensive overhaul in 2017, aimed at permanently resolving the vibration concerns. Additionally, the 'Glen Sannox', which finally emerged from Ferguson Marine shipyard in November 2024 — after being completed six-and-a-half years behind schedule and significantly over budget — raises alarms about its twin vessel, the 'Glen Rosa'. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, 'Glen Rosa' is expected to join 'Glen Sannox' on the vital Troon route, although concerns over its status remain.

The 'Glen Sannox' ferry encountered an unexpected delay due to a generator malfunction while docked in Brodick. The vessel, slated to depart at 3:30 p.m. on October 28, experienced this technical glitch, prompting an immediate troubleshooting investigation. Following assessment, the ferry was loaded and aimed to depart as soon as conditions allowed. This incident comes just days before the vessel's scheduled annual overhaul, set to commence on November 5. Before the delay, the 'Glen Sannox' successfully completed its morning sailings, leaving Troon at 6:45 a.m. and then departing from Brodick at 8:55 a.m. On November 7, the ferry underwent a degassing procedure at Inchgreen in Greenock, which involved a controlled flame to ensure safe access to the system. Authorities monitored this process closely, ensuring no safety risks were present. Given the complexity of the necessary maintenance work, the duration of the overhaul may extend beyond the original timeline. In light of the 'Glen Sannox's absence, the 'Alfred' will take over operations with a revised schedule for the Troon-Brodick route starting November 6. Should the 'Glen Sannox' complete its overhaul prior to December 28, it is set to resume service on the Troon-Brodick route.

The 'Glen Sannox', known for serving the Arran route, is set to undergo a significant overhaul starting November 10. Before this maintenance begins, the vessel will be taken out of service on November 5 to prepare for its journey to Inchgreen dock, then onto Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. This intervention aims to tackle the vibration issues that have surfaced during its operations. The planned upgrades are part of an extensive maintenance program and are expected to take longer than the initial estimate of three and a half weeks, which has a projected completion date of December 10. In the interim, to ensure that transportation remains uninterrupted, the 'Caledonian Isles' will operate from Ardrossan and MV Alfred will serve Troon until December 28. However, this timeline may adjust as more information regarding the overhaul timeline becomes available. If 'Glen Sannox' completes its work ahead of schedule, it could return to the Troon-Brodick route before December 28. Looking ahead, the 'Caledonian Isles' is set for its annual maintenance beginning January 4, 2026. Vessel deployments throughout the network will be reevaluated closer to that date.

On October 5, the 'Glen Sannox', operating on the Troon to Brodick route, encountered a hull crack that necessitated an investigation into a prior repair. As a result, critical sailings were cancelled, including the 2:50 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. departures from Brodick and the 5 p.m. departure from Troon. The following day, October 6, the timetable was revised once again as the 'Caledonian Isles' stepped in to provide additional sailings during its phased return to service. The 'Glen Sannox' was sent to Ingreen Dock in Greenock for emergency repairs, where shore-based engineers and a marine surveyor assessed the situation. From October 7 onwards, the 'Alfred' adopted an altered timetable, offering departures from Brodick at 07:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:30 p.m., along with departures from Troon at 10:00 a.m., 1:35 p.m., and 5:15 p.m. Passengers were also directed to use services via 'Ardrossan' following the return of the 'Caledonian Isles' to operational status after a lengthy 20-month repair period. As welding work needed time to cool, the 'Alfred' continued operating a single-vessel timetable until October 13, while repairs on the 'Glen Sannox' remained incomplete. During this time, the ferry's departure schedule from Brodick was the same as previously noted. CalMac engaged engineering specialists for consultations on resolving the identified issues. Fortunately, by October 13, successful repairs on the ferry allowed it to resume a single-vessel service on the Troon-Brodick route. This new defect was found around the area of the previous weld repair, completed in March, which was acknowledged as a temporary fix pending a full and permanent solution during the scheduled overhaul maintenance in 2025-26. An investigation is set to determine the underlying cause behind this recurring defect. Previously, the ferry was out of action for two days in March due to a 13-centimeter hull defect located near the waterline, which included a 2.5-centimeter section that allowed a minor amount of water ingress.

On October 5, the ferry 'Glen Sannox', which operates between Troon and Brodick, encountered a technical issue linked to a previous repair that necessitated further examination. As a result, important sailings were affected, leading to the cancellation of departures from Brodick at 2:50 p.m. and 7:10 p.m., along with the 5 p.m. sailing from Troon. In an update on October 6, the timetable was revised once more, prompting the introduction of additional sailings by the 'Caledonian Isles', which is still in the process of a phased return to service. For information on the latest sailing schedule, visit: http://calm.ac/05.

In a remarkable display of maritime solidarity, CalMac ferries 'Glen Sannox' and 'Loch Shira' promptly responded to an emergency involving the fishing vessel 'Spitfire - LH 107' (MMSI: 232003712) that was sinking off the coast on September 10 at 11:35 a.m. The alert was raised with HM Coastguard, prompting immediate action. The Troon RNLI all-weather lifeboat, Largs RNLI inshore lifeboat, and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199 were also dispatched to the incident site, located just north of Little Cumbrae Island. Coastguard rescue teams from Cumbrae, Greenock, and Largs were mobilized to extend their assistance. The rescue helicopter successfully winched two individuals from the distressed trawler and transported them safely to Largs Yacht Haven, where they were assessed by ambulance personnel before being released. Following this critical operation, the Coastguard allowed the CalMac ferry to continue its schedule, enabling a 1:30 p.m. departure from Cumbrae. However, during the response, the RNLI lifeboat 'R.A. Wilson' encountered trouble as it capsized in the Firth of Clyde. The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat overturned on its way to the scene, resulting in the quick-thinking crew ending up in the water. Fortunately, they managed to right the vessel and reboard swiftly, receiving support from other units on the scene and returning to the lifeboat station safely. Although no injuries were reported, the lifeboat sustained damage, prompting the RNLI to deploy a relief lifeboat while the original is under repair. An investigation is underway by the RNLI along with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to determine the circumstances surrounding this serious incident. Additionally, Peel Ports has issued a Notice to Mariners (NTM 26/2025), advising vessels to avoid anchoring or fishing in the vicinity until the location of the wreck is verified. While the exact cause of the 'Spitfire's' sinking remains unknown, preliminary assessments suggest a possible failure of one of its wooden planks, leading to water intake. The 'Spitfire,' launched in 1974 at Dunbar in East Lothian, marked a significant chapter in local maritime history as it was among the last vessels built at the now-defunct Weatherhead and Blackie boatyard. The trawler faithfully served for 50 years at the harbor before being sold in 2024 and making its final voyage north through the Caledonian Canal in pursuit of prawns near Little Cumbrae Island.

On September 16, the ferry Glen Sannox, which operates on the Troon to Brodick route, encountered a malfunction with its gyro compass system. This technical disruption caused the vessel's scheduled departure at 06:30 a.m. from Troon to be postponed to 07:15 a.m., resulting in a 45-minute delay. The estimated time of arrival (ETA) in Brodick was subsequently adjusted to 08:30 a.m. Additionally, this delay affected the 08:40 a.m. sailing from Brodick, although passengers were still encouraged to check in as per the standard procedure.

The ferry 'Glen Sannox', operating on the Troon-Brodick route, encountered a malfunction with its clam doors on September 2. This technical issue led to a delay for the scheduled sailing at 1:00 p.m. from Brodick. Passengers have been informed that further updates will be shared promptly as more information surfaces regarding the situation.

On August 20, a technical malfunction involving the passenger gangway on the ferry 'Glen Sannox', which operates the Troon-Brodick route, has led to a significant change in passenger boarding procedures. Foot passengers can no longer use the gangway and must instead access the vessel via the car deck at Troon. This adjustment will remain in effect until further notice as the issue is addressed.

On July 1, the MV Glen Sannox, which operates between Troon and Brodick, experienced an electrical malfunction that affected its firefighting system. This technical issue resulted in the unfortunate cancellation of the ferry's scheduled departures: the 06:30 a.m. from Troon and the 08:40 a.m. from Brodick. While the crew worked diligently to rectify the problem, safety protocols mandated a return to service only after ensuring adequate rest for the crew following overnight repairs. The vessel successfully resumed operations with a 10:50 a.m. sailing from Troon.

On June 30, the ferry Glen Sannox, which operates on the Troon to Brodick route, experienced an unexpected medical emergency shortly after its scheduled departure. The vessel departed Troon promptly at 3:10 p.m. but had to redirect its course back to the port to assist a passenger in need. After disembarking the affected individual, the Glen Sannox resumed its journey, leaving Troon again at 3:50 p.m. The ferry is anticipated to reach Brodick by 5:10 p.m., ensuring that passengers can complete their travel plans despite the unforeseen delay.

On June 5, the ferry 'Glen Sannox', which operates the Troon to Brodick route, encountered significant technical difficulties. A malfunction with the passenger gangway rendered it unavailable, requiring foot passengers to board and disembark through the car deck at Troon. This adjustment resulted in delays for those disembarking the vessel. Local bus connections in Troon were informed and were on standby to accommodate incoming passengers. To address the gangway issue, contractors are scheduled to assess the situation on June 9 after service, with plans for a temporary repair followed by a more permanent solution taking precedence. In addition to the gangway malfunction, the 'Glen Sannox' also faced challenges with its starboard main engine, which was reported during the midday hours, forcing the ferry to run at a reduced speed. Fortunately, the engine issue has been rectified, allowing the vessel to return to full operational speed. However, this rectification caused concerns about potential delays in arriving at Brodick. As of June 8, the mechanical problems have been resolved, and the ferry was ready for its 12:40 p.m. sailing from Troon, prepared to load traffic and get back on schedule.