During its delivery passage to Scotland, the new CalMac ferry MV Isle of Islay participated in the recovery of a man from the sea off the coast of Morocco. The vessel was en route from the Turkish yard where it was constructed when adverse weather conditions required it to weigh anchor at Gibraltar and continue passage in Moroccan waters. In the course of these conditions, the ship’s crew observed an individual in the water.
The watch team initiated recovery procedures and launched the fast rescue craft to bring the man alongside and subsequently on board. Once aboard, he received care from the ferry’s personnel for a period of several days until responsibility for his welfare was transferred to Moroccan authorities. According to the operator’s fleet management director, CalMac’s personnel are trained to carry out prompt action in support of maritime rescues, frequently in coordination with the coastguard in Scottish waters. He noted that although the vessel was newly delivered, the crew’s conduct in the operation demonstrated professional capability in retrieving the individual from hazardous sea and weather conditions within a matter of minutes.
MV Isle of Islay is the first of four vessels under construction in Turkey and is encountering challenging conditions on its northbound delivery. Local wind reports over several days last week recorded sustained winds in excess of 30 knots with gusts exceeding 50 knots. In response to the conditions, the ferry lay to off the east coast of Morocco before securing alongside at Almería over the weekend. It is scheduled to remain there until an expected weather window permits departure for A Coruña in northern Spain. From that point, the ship will transit the Bay of Biscay—a body of water noted for its heavy seas—when weather allows, before progressing toward United Kingdom waters.
The fleet management director further commented that undertaking the delivery during the winter season places the vessel in areas where sea and atmospheric conditions tend toward the more severe, a situation exacerbated by a series of storms affecting the Iberian Peninsula. He stated that the crew continues to work to advance the vessel’s passage toward Scotland, with precise arrival details to be confirmed closer to the time. Once placed into service in Scottish waters, the ferry—rated for 450 passengers and capable of carrying 100 cars or 14 heavy goods vehicles—will enter service on routes serving Islay and Jura.