The complexity of MV Glen Sannox’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) system and a lack of expert knowledge has been blamed for a further two-month slip in its delivery schedule.
Interim chief executive at Port Glasgow’s Ferguson Marine yard John Petticrew says the issues delay the handover date from the manufacturer to the client, CMAL, to the end of July and makes a mockery of the vaunted benefits of the new “green” fuel.
LNG burns cleaner than marine diesel and produces far less nitrous and sulphur oxides pollutants, however, the carbon costs of importing LNG from Qatar and shipping it more than 8,000 miles to Kent in the south of England, before driving it 460 miles by road, far exceeds that of using marine diesel.
The viability of using LNG has been questioned by experts in a number of independent reports which describe unburned gasses being released into the atmosphere as far more harmful than carbon dioxide.
Marine applications of LNG propulsion are in use around the world, however, it is relatively untested in the UK and Glen Sannox will be the first vessel in the UK to make use of the technology.
The Banner highlighted the glaring issue which negates the benefits of using LNG in May 2022 when Danish company KC LNG won a £5 million contract to construct an underground LNG tank at Ardrossan, with work only expected to begin in 2025.
With no bunkering at either Ardrossan or Troon, and the future of Ardrossan being used as the main port once alterations have been made to accommodate Glen Sannox in doubt, lorries will need to make the trip to Scotland at least once a week to refuel the ship.
Despite all the concerns about LNG and the lack of available expertise in using and installing it in the UK, CMAL bosses have insisted the dual fuel system with completed LNG capabilities is fully commissioned before accepting the vessel.
In an update on progress to the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee and MSPs, Mr Petticrew said: "The installation and commissioning of the LNG system, a first in class for UK shipbuilding, remains particularly challenging.
"An underestimation of complexity, the degree of difficulty of the installation, the lack of available expert knowledge and qualified resources in the UK in relation to marine LNG systems, has disappointingly contributed to further slippage in the progress we have been able to make in the last few weeks and consequently our previously proposed schedule.
“Regrettably this will result in a delay of the delivery of this fully commissioned dual fuel system vessel, now targeted for the end of July 2024.”
He added: "We appreciate and fully understand there will be disappointment in all quarters, particularly in Arran, over this further delay."
Mr Petticrew, who took over as interim chief executive following the controversial dismissal of chief executive officer David Tydeman in March, says he remains confident Glen Sannox can still be delivered in the price range of between £145.5m - £149.1m, however, that figure does not cover the costs of the warranty period.
Providing an update on MV Glen Rosa, Glen Sannox’s sister ship which is being built at the same yard, Mr Petticrew says it remains on schedule to be delivered in September 2025 and within the latest cost estimate of “not exceeding a maximum of £150m”.
The latest announcement from the shipyard means the decision to use LNG has resulted in further delays - as some experts predicted - and will contribute to Glen Sannox being six years late and nearly four times over budget.
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from West Coast Today
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.