FERRY procurement quango CMAL is set to host a second online webinar on plans to replace seven small Caledonian MacBrayne vessels which Ferguson's shipyard wants to build.

The online meeting — with a Q&A session — is due to take place between 6.30pm and 8pm on February 2 and anyone interested in taking part is asked to register online at https://www.cmassets.co.uk/project/svrp/

A Ferguson's spokesperson said recently: "Our preferred option is to secure an order for the small vessels that CMAL is planning.

"The shipyard has successfully built three small hybrid vessels for CMAL — MV Lochinvar, MV Hallaig and MV Catriona — and we believe we are well-positioned to build the new fleet of small vessels."

CMAL's director of vessels Jim Anderson said: "We are now able to share a further update on the feasibility studies.

"We are keen to get feedback from local communities and to answer their questions."

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE: Get access to this and other articles for just £2 for two months