ARDROSSAN HARBOUR has been bought by the Scottish government, paving the way for two new ferries to use the historic port for travel to the Isle of Arran.

Ministers expressed an interest in bringing the harbour into public ownership to make changes that would allow the newly built Glen Sannox and its long-awaited sister ship the Glen Rosa to dock there.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) – the Scottish government’s ferry procurement arm, which also looks after the country’s west-coast ports – completed the purchase from Peel Ports.

However, the cost of the purchase has not been announced as a result of “confidentiality clauses” in the contract.

Scottish Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “This purchase will allow for us to focus on redevelopment of the facility as the primary mainland port to Arran.”

Peel Ports managing director Lewis McIntyre added that the sale was “excellent news for the people of Arran and Ardrossan.”