On September 24, at the Gdańsk-based Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., part of the Remontowa Holding S.A. capital group, a steel-cutting ceremony was held for a passenger-car ferry ordered by Scottish operator Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). International contracts such as this play an important role in the further development and growing significance of Polish shipyards.

The vessel is being built under the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, aimed at replacing aging ferries operating on Scotland’s west coast, thereby improving the quality of maritime transport in the region. The program also supports the plan to reduce CO₂ emissions. The contract for the delivery of seven vessels in total was signed at the end of March this year. The deal is worth around £175 million, with delivery scheduled through Q1 2029.

The project was developed in cooperation between Norwegian design office LMG Marin and Remontowa Marine Design & Consulting, part of the Remontowa Holding group. The Polish shipyard emphasizes that the design meets the most stringent environmental standards, including Lloyd’s Register ECO notation. During the ceremony, a protocol confirming the progress of work was also signed. The event was attended by representatives of Remontowa Shipbuilding, Remontowa Holding, and the Scottish client.

The ferry under construction, designated hull number B621/1, is scheduled for delivery in Q3 2027. It will measure 49.9 meters in length, 12.48 meters in width, and 3.5 meters in height to the main deck, with a design draft of 2.1 meters. The vessel will reach speeds of up to 9 knots, carry up to 250 passengers plus 5 crew members, and accommodate up to 24 cars and 2 trucks. It will be equipped with four azimuth thrusters powered during normal operation by lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of about 5.7 MWh, enabling all-day electric operation. This solution will significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and noise, improving passenger comfort and aligning with global trends in the decarbonization of maritime transport.

The new vessel marks an important step in CMAL’s fleet renewal and transition to green technologies. The company owns a fleet of ferries, ports, and marine infrastructure on Scotland’s west coast. Its strategic fleet renewal program is aimed at ensuring reliable, low-emission sea connections for local communities. The choice of a Polish shipyard as contractor sparked debate in Scottish and British media, as the contract went abroad rather than to a domestic yard, amid serious challenges faced by the UK shipbuilding industry.

For Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A., this project means continued growth of its expertise in the construction of electric and hybrid ferries, strengthening its position on the European and global market. The Gdańsk shipyard is already heavily engaged with ferry projects for Norwegian operator Torghatten Nord AS, with the first of them launched in July this year. In addition, it is building vessels for the Polish Navy – three Kormoran II-class minehunters and signals intelligence vessels under the “Delfin” program. The final two units of both series are scheduled for launch before the end of this year.