The current fleet of four ferries handles nearly half of Scotland's ferry traffic, some 1.2 million passengers and 530,000 vehicles per year. With expanding year round operations making it even more vital to ensure passenger safety in all weather conditions, Western Ferries' newest vessel joins its sister ships in having a specially developed Ibergrip surface coating.

The 40 vehicle capacity Sound of Shuna was launched late last summer after approximately 600m 2of Ibergrip XD Marine had been applied in four lanes by Ferguson Shipbuilders at Port Glasgow. The anti-skid surface has been developed in marine applications specifically for use in all-weather environments such as ro-ro ferries, offshore loading buoys, linkspans, pontoons, passenger walkways and bridge decks.

Ibergrip was first used on Sound of Shuna 's sister ship Sound of Scarba and proved to be a very durable deck covering popular with passengers and crew. It offers excellent grip even in rough seas and because it is a polyurethane resin based coating, it protects the underlying steel.

As well as being hard wearing, Ibergrip XD is fireproof to Class 1 and resistant to impact as well as spillages of oil, petrol, diesel and lubricants. Its non-slip properties can be adjusted by the addition of a wide range of abrasives depending on the type and level of traffic which will use it.

MJ Information No: 19011