Heroic Rescue at Sea: MV Isle of Islay’s Daring Mission During Delivery Passage to Scotland

During its delivery voyage to Scotland, the newly constructed CalMac ferry, MV Isle of Islay, played a heroic role in rescuing a man from the sea off the coast of Morocco.

The Ro-Pax vessel, originally en route from its Turkish shipyard, encountered inclement weather that forced it to anchor in Gibraltar before proceeding into Moroccan waters. While navigating these challenging conditions, the crew spotted an individual thrashing in the water.

Acting swiftly, the bridge team initiated the recovery procedures and deployed a fast rescue craft to reach the man, successfully bringing him on board. He was provided with medical care from the ferry’s personnel for several days until Moroccan authorities took charge of his safety. The fleet management director of CalMac praised the crew’s professionalism, noting that despite the vessel being newly delivered, they efficiently retrieved the individual from perilous marine conditions within minutes.

MV Isle of Islay, the first in a series of four ferries being constructed in Turkey, faced difficult weather during its northbound delivery. Wind reports indicated sustained gusts exceeding 50 knots in the region. As a result, the ferry remained alongside the east coast of Morocco before docking in Almeria over the weekend, where it will await a suitable weather window to depart for A Coruña in northern Spain. From there, it will cross the Bay of Biscay before heading toward UK waters.

The fleet management director also highlighted the challenges of delivering vessels during winter, when conditions are particularly severe. As the crew continues to navigate toward Scotland, the exact arrival details will be confirmed closer to the date.

Once it starts operating in Scottish waters, the ferry will accommodate 450 passengers and transport 100 cars and 14 lorries on routes serving the islands of Islay and Jura.

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