NEARLY seven years late and more than four times overbudget, the Glen Sannox has finally taken its first passengers to the Isle of Arran.

The ferry is the first of two built by Ferguson Marine to enter service after a fraught build which saw numerous design changes, costs rocketing from £97 million to £400m and the shipyard sinking into insolvency before being nationalised.

The Glen Sannox was originally intended to serve CalMac’s busiest route, between Ardrossan and Brodick on the Isle of Arran.