MV Alfred, hired by the Scottish Government to ease the effects of the ferry crisis, made a trial docking at Ardrossan Harbour earlier this week, writes David Morton.
The ferry arrived on Monday, May 1 and seemed to be quite at home in the appointed dock - and there appeared to be no issues regarding using the port for passenger traffic.
She had previously carried out berthing trials at Ullapool, Lochmaddy, Port Askaig, Campbelltown and Brodick, and has since been spotted in Ayr.
Scottish ministers chartered the boat for nine months at a cost of £9m in a bid to ease the growing ferry crisis in Scotland.
CalMac said that once the trials have been completed they can then work out which routes she can operate on.
The Alfred belongs to Pentland Ferries and was named after owner and managing director, Andrew Banks’ father.
She has carrying capacity for 430 passengers and 98 cars, or 54 cars and 12 articulated vehicles/coaches.
It has a shallow draught which will help entering some ports.
The ferry is 85 metres in length and is claimed to use 60 per cent less fuel than the conventional CalMac ferries and produces less carbon dioxide.
Facilities on board includes two lounges with seating, two cafeteria lounges, a children’s play area, an indoor sundeck lounge (where dogs are welcome), outdoor seating area, cafeteria, and wheelchair lift.
Designed by a Scot, Stuart Ballantyne, the vessel was built in Vung Tao, Vietnam at the Strategic Marine shipyard.
Transport Scotland said the £9m will cover berthing dues, fuel, the commercial charter rate and other undisclosed costs.
The charter came amidst widespread disruption to services because of faults with vessels discovered during the annual overhaul process.
Earlier this week, our sister paper The Herald claimed CalMac had been unable to give assurances of the continued use of the 'emergency' ferry to try and ease the effect of the nation's ferry fiasco - despite previously stating that they had 'exclusive' use of it.
MV Alfred's owners encountered difficulties of their own when their other vessel, MV Pentalina, had to be withdrawn from service after running aground near its home port of St Margaret's Hope in Orkney.
All Pentland Ferries sailings have been cancelled until further notice.
CalMac would not comment on the possibility that MV Alfred could be recalled by Pentland Ferries.
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