MV Sound of Scalpay II

For earlier Western Ferries vessel, see MV Loch Sunart.

History
United Kingdom
Name	Sound of Scalpay
Namesake	Sound adjacent to Scalpay in the Outer Hebrides
Operator	Western Ferries
Route	Gourock to Dunoon
Builder	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down	November 2025
Status	Under construction
General characteristics
Class & type	Passenger/vehicle roll-on/roll-off ferry
Length	49.95 m (163 ft 11 in)
Ramps	2
Capacity	220 passengers 40 cars
Notes	[1]

MV Sound of Scalpay is a car and passenger ferry, currently being constructed for Western Ferries. ^[2] When built, the vessel will operate on the upper Clyde between Gourock and Dunoon, Scotland. ^[3]

History

The keel for Sound of Scalpay was laid down in November 2025 at Cammell Laird of Birkenhead, as part of a deal that will see two vessels built for Western Ferries. ^[4] Both Sound of Scalpay and her sister ship, Sound of Sleat, are intended to be ready for delivery in autumn 2026. ^[2]

The ferry takes its name from an earlier Western Ferries vessel, that sailed under their flag from 1995 to 2013. ^{[5] [6]}

Layout

Sound of Scalpay uses an updated design based upon that used by Western Ferries' Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay. ^[1] These earlier vessels have a single car deck with 194 lane-metres between bow and stern ramps, with a passenger lounge. ^[7] The original designs have been improved to reduce fuel consumption and increase the efficiency of operation. ^[1]

Service

When in service, the vessel will operate Western Ferries' Clyde service between McInroy's Point (Gourock) and Hunters Quay (Dunoon). This 2.2 nautical mile crossing ^[7] allows vehicles to avoid the A83 "Rest and be thankful". ^[8]

References

1. McDonough, Tony (27 November 2025). "Cammell Laird lays keel for new Scottish ferry". Liverpool Business News. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
2. "New Western Ferries ship hits keel milestone - Scottish Business News". 26 November 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
3. "Construction milestone for new Western Ferries vessel the MV Sound of Scalpay". Greenock Telegraph. 25 November 2025. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
4. "Cammell Laird - APCL Hosts Keel Laying Ceremony for First New Western Ferries' (Clyde) Limited, Car and Passenger Ferry". www.cammell-laird.co.uk. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
5. "Fleet". Western Ferries. Archived from the original on 19 September 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
6. "Western Ferries boats leaving 14.00 today for new life at Fort William". Argyll News. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 17 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
7. "New Ferries for Clyde Crossing". Cummins Inc. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
8. David Ross (25 July 2013). "Second Western ferry to be launched today". The Herald . Retrieved 28 September 2020.