The Highland Council has announced that it has reached another major milestone in the procurement of a brand-new electric vessel to replace its existing Corran Ferry.
Funded through a 58 million GBP investment from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, which in turn includes 28 million GBP from the Scottish Government for the new electric vessel, 20 million GBP from the UK Government and 10 million GBP from The Highland Council towards landside infrastructure; the project aims to provide a modern replacement ferry for one of the busiest single-vessel crossings in the country.
The council, working in partnership with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), has completed the development of the required tender documentation, and has launched a formal procurement process through a single-vessel tender. This approach is expected to benefit from CMAL’s technical expertise and procurement support whilst still allowing the project to progress within the intended procurement timeframe.
Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans, said:Reaching the procurement stage for a new electric Corran Ferry is a significant milestone and demonstrates the continued progress being made in delivering this major investment for the Highlands.
The Corran crossing is a vital transport link for local communities, businesses and visitors, and procuring a suitably qualified suppliers is a vital step towards securing a modern, reliable and sustainable ferry service.
Alongside investment in new shoreside infrastructure, the replacement vessel will help strengthen the resilience of the service, support our environmental ambitions and ensure the crossing continues to play a key role in supporting the economy and connectivity of the area for generations to come.
The contract for the new vessel is expected to be awarded in March 2027, and is subject to the successful completion of the procurement process. Once all is verified, the replacement ferry is anticipated to enter service in early 2029, where it will operate alongside the MV Corran, which will continue to serve as a relief vessel.
Alongside the new ferry, the Highland Council has also committed to making significant investments in new shoreside infrastructure, which is currently progressing and is scheduled for completion by June 2027, with installation and commissioning of the charging infrastructure expected to be completed by September 2028.
