Each submission will now be rigorously assessed against quality, technical and commercial criteria, and the contract will be awarded to the winning shipyard at the end of March 2022.

The Islay route is one of the busiest services for freight on the Clyde and Hebrides network, and the two new ferries will support the island’s vital economic activity. Sufficient passenger accommodation will be designed to meet an anticipated increase in passenger demand. They will have greater vehicle capacity than the current vessels on the route, and will have significantly lower energy requirement. They will be designed with a clear focus on freight, including the capability to operate a possible overnight freight service forecasted 2028/29.

Jim Anderson, Director of Vessels at CMAL, said: “The four compliant bids bring us a step closer to providing new vessels to Islay and Jura.

“We will now spend time thoroughly evaluating the tenders against strict criteria, before awarding the contract to the highest scoring yard.”