Schottel will supply rudder propellers for a new series of seven electric double-ended ferries by Scotland’s state-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL).
The vessels will be constructed by the Polish shipyard Remontowa Shipbuilding, with the first delivery scheduled for 2027. Designed to operate across nine routes on Scotland’s West Coast, the ferries will contribute to more sustainable regional transport.
Jim Anderson, Director of Vessels, CMAL, said: “For the new Loch-class ferries, our focus was on achieving excellent manoeuvrability, redundancy and high efficiency. Moreover, as part of Scotland’s critical transport infrastructure, these vessels must deliver maximum reliability. With Schottel’s modern propulsion systems, we are confident that all these requirements are fully met.”
The system selected consists of four Schottel SRP 100 L RudderPropellers per vessel. Thanks to this configuration, a high level of redundancy is achieved, significantly enhancing reliability and operational safety of the ferries. In line with CMAL’s focus on efficiency and sustainability, each SRP features the L-drive variant which eliminates the upper gearbox to further reduce mechanical losses and thus lower maintenance costs. Additionally, the L-drive contributes to enhanced passenger comfort by minimising vibration and noise levels. During transits at higher speeds, the ferries benefit from high free-running efficiency thanks to the high-performance SDC nozzle with ProAnode hydrodynamically optimised anode technology.
To ensure dependable operation under the demanding weather conditions off Scotland’s west coast, the SRPs will be specially equipped for this project with a fast-reacting azimuth steering system. This allows the vessels to achieve a higher positioning accuracy and extend operating times. Operational readiness of the ferries is further supported by the Schottel MariHub monitoring system which enables condition-based maintenance and helps to optimise service intervals.
The newbuilds will play a key role in enhancing connectivity for islanders, businesses and communities. Six of the ferries can each carry 150 passengers and 24 cars, while one additional ferry can accommodate up to 250 passengers and 16 cars. Thanks to their electric propulsion system, the ferries are capable of zero emission operation with overnight battery charging. As part of CMAL’s small vessel replacement programme, the ships are central to a broader initiative aimed at renewing the small vessel fleet and associated port upgrades to accommodate the new vessels.
Image: Schottel is to equip seven zero emission ferries with rudder propellers (source: Schottel/Navalue/CMAL)
