Islay Enabling Works
Stakeholder Update
Issue 3—August 2024
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) is leading significant infrastructure upgrades at three key ferry terminals: Kennacraig, Port Askaig, and Colonsay. This initiative aims to enhance the facilities to accommodate the upcoming Islay vessels—MV Isle of Islay and MV Loch Indaal—slated for delivery in late 2024 and early 2025.
The upgrades at Kennacraig, Port Askaig and Colonsay include dredging, new quay walls, strengthening works, fendering upgrades, facilities for shore power and, at Port Askaig, provision of a mooring aid.
Kennacraig
Work at Kennacraig is well underway, with the South Berth work having been completed two weeks ahead of schedule, meaning we’re on track for the berth to be handed back for ferry services from 7th August.
Here is a run-down of what’s been happening:
The South Berth wall construction works are now complete, including all drilling and sheet installations. The sheets have only now to be trimmed to their final heights, which will be done whilst the berth is in operation.
The newly refurbished linkspan was installed by the LARA1 crane barge in June.
Final preparations and commissioning were completed ahead of opening the South Berth for the ferry services.
The South Berth’s fender upgrades have now been concluded, including those on the roundhead.
The ‘Wyre Estuary’, ‘Wyre River’ and ‘Wyre Bay’ vessels restarted dredging in early July, and have now also finalised their work around the berth.
As ferry operations return to the linkspan on the South Berth, the contractor will take possession of the fixed-ramp North Berth on 7th August 2024, when the berth will be closed to ferries.
The works on the North Berth will continue until spring next year, when all works are expected to be completed.
Port Askaig
Men working on the manbasket to remove parallel motion fenders (PMFs) on the roundhead
Port upgrades led by CMAL
The project to upgrade Port Askaig, which began in March of this year, includes the replacement of the existing fenders, piling and the concrete foundation for a mooring aid, and electrical ducting works.
Replacing the fenders on the roundhead required the port to be closed from 19th June. These parallel motion fenders (PMFs) were removed and reconditioned, before being reinstalled last month, allowing the ferry service to resume on 31st July as scheduled.
Reinstalled PMFs on the roundhead at Port Askaig
Port Askaig’s new berthing fenders
Some shoreside works will continue now the port has reopened, with all works scheduled to be completed later in the year, and the new mooring aid in place before the the MV Isle of Islay enters service.
Marshalling area updates provided by Argyll & Bute Council
After careful consideration of community feedback and current facilities, Argyll & Bute Council (A&BC) has shifted from an extensive high-level development plan to a more cost-effective solution. This approach aligns with the Marine Assets Management Plan (MAMP), mitigating large-scale disruption and additional costs. The plan respects the community’s desire to maintain parking spaces and promises enhanced signage, lining, quayside traffic management, and CCTV for Port Askaig, preparing for the arrival of larger ferries. A&BC is now actively advancing this solution to improve existing facilities.
A&BC aim to deliver the more cost-effective solution within the parameters of the MAMP, while addressing the concerns of the local community and delivering approximately 140% of the vessels PCU capacity within the Port. This capacity provides contingency should ferries be delayed or vehicles arrive early. This is a higher, more ambitious level of capacity than provided in many ports across the UK.
Colonsay
Bulk dredging was completed on 14th June which allowed the dredger to demobilise from the site.
Divers began their operations on 22nd June ahead of the work to create collars around the piles to help strengthen them.
Trial prob drilling on pier
Dredger at Colonsay
The divers undertook necessary surveys around the toes of the existing steel piles in order to determine rock levels and began installing collars on the 4th of July. The toe protection works for the fender piles are also progressing well.
All works are due to completed in October 2024.
Making a difference in the community
CMAL and our principal contractor, George Leslie, are keen that communities benefit directly from the Islay Vessel Enabling Works and that the project has a lasting, positive social impact.
As members of the local community, you know best, and we’d like to support causes close to your heart. See our website for the kinds of causes we’ve supported in the past, and please get in touch with your ideas and suggestions.
Updates from Caledonian MacBrayne
Customers travelling to Islay and Colonsay
An amended timetable will operate on the Kennacraig–Port Ellen/Port Askaig, Islay and Oban–Colonsay–Port Askaig–Kennacraig routes in two stages from Wednesday 31 July until Friday 9 August and Saturday 10 August to Thursday 17 October.
Check out the Caledonian MacBrayne website for more real-time operational updates.
More Islay projects
There’s lots happening on Islay, so here’s a handy run-down of other CMAL projects on the island, where you can learn more, and who to contact:
Project
Port Ellen Terminal Development
Purpose
To increase the vehicle marshalling area, increase staff and visitor parking, improve port operations for commercial use, improve passenger access to vessels, and explore the location and size of an area for a proposed new terminal building.
Project
Port Ellen Harbour Revision Order
Purpose
As the Port Ellen Terminal Development Project progresses, an HRO will be promoted to extend the existing Statutory Harbour Authority Area in line with the final design and gain statutory consent to construct the works.
Project
Harbour Revision (Consolidation) Order
Purpose
To consolidate harbour legislation across our network of ports and harbours. The proposed Harbour Revision (Consolidation) Order will improve safety, and provide a consistent legal framework to operate, improve and maintain CMAL’s harbours and marine infrastructure.
Find out more
Thank you for taking the time to read this update.
More information on the Islay Vessel Enabling Works is available at: cmassets.co.uk/nivew
Get in touch: islayvessel@cmassets.co.uk
Our full privacy notice is available here.