I HAVE watched part of a television programme about the “Norwegian Breakaway” ship. The first steel was cut in September 21, 2011; she was delivered to her owners in April, 2013; and she sailed on her first cruise in May, 2013.
At 147,000 tons, she is some 24 times larger than the new Glen Sannox being built for the Arran route; a remarkable achievement in less than two years.
The first steel was cut for the Glen Sannox in April 2016 and, more than two years later, we face the prospect that it will be late 2019 before she is in service; what a dismal performance.
Robin Johnston makes many valid points (Letters, August 22). However, I do not accept that it is the dual-fuelled engines that are the problem. The Glen Sannox may be the first ship to be built in the UK with dual-fuelled engines but that type of engine has been in use for some years and the makers, Wartsila, could advise on overcoming any problems.
There must a more fundamental problem in the design. For instance, why have the funnels been removed? Someone must step in (and I emphasise “one”, not a committee) and sort out this mess.
Having followed the progress of Clyde Blowers and Jim McColl (owner of Ferguson Marine) since the late 1980s, I am surprised this has gone on for so long. It is not only those using the ferries to the isles whom this affects. Not only must any shipbuilding problems be sorted; but also the public must be given full details about what has caused the delays.
Jim Climie,
Orwell, Whiting Bay,
Arran.
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