MV Glen Rosa departs for sea trials as Ferguson Marine approaches final stage of the vessel’s build

Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd has officially commenced builder’s sea trials for MV Glen Rosa, another significant milestone in the vessel’s journey toward completion and entry into Scotland’s ferry network.

The sea trials will put the 102-metre ferry through rigorous dynamic testing on the Firth of Clyde. Over the coming days, shipyard specialists and industry partners will assess how she handles, trial the propulsion and power generation systems, and monitor safety, automation and navigation under real sailing conditions.

This testing follows the completion of Glen Rosa’s dry docking at Dales Marine in Greenock earlier this summer, alongside progressing the commissioning of various ship systems and interior outfitting across seven decks.  

Once the builder's sea trials conclude, Ferguson Marine will address any necessary technical refinements before the vessel enters the final build and evaluation phase. The shipyard will then progress the installation of new propeller blades and final LNG completion activities. Following this, she will undergo owner’s sea trials to demonstrate the vessel’s dual-fuel capability in collaboration with CMAL and CalMac before formal handover in February 2027.

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.”

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

Upon completion of both sets of sea trials and final regulatory sign-offs, MV Glen Rosa will be formally handed over to CMAL in February 2027 before entering service with CalMac.

Image credit: George Munro, The Greenock Telegraph