The Scottish Government has announced that a second cruise ship will be used to house Ukrainian refugees on the River Clyde in Glasgow.

The cruise ship Ambition owned by the British startup company Ambassador Cruise Line will join the former cruise ferry MS Victoria, currently docked in Edinburgh, which is serving as accommodation vessel for about 1,700 refugees.

MS Ambition, which is the former Aida Cruises ship Aida Mira, will serve as a hotel for up to 1,750 people seeking asylum from Ukraine, starting September 2022 until March 2023.

The Scottish Government said there are 10,556 displaced Ukrainians which have arrived in Scotland through the super sponsor scheme.

 "We are firmly focused on supporting displaced people from Ukraine who are seeking sanctuary in Scotland as they flee the war in their homeland. Following the arrival of MS Victoria I - which has been well received by the people on board - the Scottish Government is chartering a second passenger ship - the MS Ambition - which will be located in Glasgow from early September. This will further enhance our ability to provide safe and secure accommodation for those who need it," said Neil Gray, Minister with special responsibility for refugees from Ukraine.

After being used as a refugee accommodation, the MS Ambition will head for the shipyard for extensive drydock refurbishment before starting its inaugural season for the Ambassador Cruise Line.

The ship is expected to sail its first cruise from its home port Tilbury, London to Kristiansand, Copenhagen and Gothenburg on March 4, 2023.

Under the Ambassador banner, the Ambition will operate various itineraries from the UK. In the summer months, most sailings will be to Northern Europe. And In winter, some cruises are scheduled to southern Europe, and the Caribbean.  At 216 meters long and 28,8 meters wide, the Ambition is a relatively small cruise ship built in 1999. On board, there are 713 cabins that can accommodate less than 1500 passengers.