Glen Rosa will be the second of two Scottish ferries capable of operating on either
marine diesel oil or
liquefied natural gas (LNG), aiming at benefits of a marked reduction in
carbon dioxide,
sulphur and
nitrous oxide emissions. The first steel for both ships was cut on 7 April 2016. The first ship, , was launched on 21 November 2017 by then
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Bidding process Of the six shipyards biding for fixed price contracts to design and build the two ships, Ferguson Marine (FMEL), owned by
Jim McColl, was the only Scottish bidder. During negotiations, the government named FMEL as preferred tenderer, though it had just told CMAL that it could not provide the contractually required bank-backed guarantee. FMEL had already discussed this with Scottish Government ministers, who now decided the government would take on the risks, and the contracts were awarded on 16 October 2015.
Construction delays FMEL agreed a contract to design, construct, and deliver both vessels by 26 July 2018, but then began construction before providing drawings and plans of its design for approval as required by the contract, and there were increasing delays when work had to be redone. In July 2017, FMEL denied responsibly for these problems and claimed additional costs, CMAL dismissed the claims. The dispute escalated with further delays. FMEL went into administration, but increasing costs and further lengthy delays became a continuing political scandal, the "
ferry fiasco".
Glen Rosa was contracted to be launched in 2018, and to enter service the following year. After FMEL went into administration and the yard was nationalised, it was estimated in December 2019 that the second ferry would be delivered to CMAL in summer 2022. There were delays due to the pandemic and shortages of skilled labour, and in June 2021 delivery was rescheduled for April 2023 to July 2023. At the start of September 2021, installation of the bulbous bow, as well as stern sections, was reported as marking significant progress. Further delays in early 2022 saw the delivery date slip to October–December 2023. The ship's delivery date was delayed again in September 2022 to the first quarter of 2024.
Naming A public poll was run in August 2023 to choose a name for the vessel, which had previously been referred to as "Hull 802", from a shortlist of
Claymore,
Glen Cloy and
Glen Rosa. which was fitted out at the shipyard's Newark Quay, and had begun sea trials on 13 February.
Ceremonial ship launch, 5 April 2024 As the
ceremonial ship launching neared, Ferguson Marine lacked new orders, and was under threat of closure.
Clyde-built ships had dominated international trade a century earlier, now
BAE Systems is the only other Clyde shipbuilder. Like many internationally, BAE no longer risk traditional dynamic
slipway launches; they use a
semi-submersible heavy-lift vessel to launch
Type 26 frigates gently in deep water, others build ships in
dry docks. This was to be the 363rd ship built at the site since Ferguson Brothers established the shipyard in 1903, and the heaviest. They had a week of the necessary high tide, which would not occur again until December. Responding to
Inverclyde community interest, the public were invited to attend the launch, with access to the yard "on a first come, first served basis". Crowds filled the allocated areas on 9 April 2024, while hundreds more watched from the adjacent Coronation Park (infilled from the original harbours),
Newark Castle grounds and the park to its east (on the former site of
Lamont's Castle Yard). Ferguson Marine interim CEO John Petticrew welcomed the launch as a significant milestone, Scottish Government cabinet secretary
Màiri McAllan gave a short speech, local minister Rev. William Boyle blessed the vessel, then after a short delay due to gusting wind, the
Glen Rosa was named and launched by Beth Atkinson, a qualified welder who had completed her apprenticeship at the yard the year prior. MSP
Stuart McMillan played the bagpipes as the ship went down the slipway. Tugs then moved the vessel to the shipyard's Newark Quay (which had recently been vacated when
Glen Sannox began its sea trials, then was moved to the nearby Inchgreen Quay in Greenock). then in December due to corrosion and scheduling problems the delay was extended to the fourth quarter of 2026. ==Service==