Ministers must stop ‘excuses’ on future of Ferguson Marine – union

Ministers must stop making “excuses” on the future of the state-owned Ferguson marine shipyard, union leaders have said.

The GMB union urged the government to pick up the pace after a letter from Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes suggested only £570,000 out of a promised investment sum of £14.2 million has been committed so far.

The Scottish Government pledged £14.2 million for the Port Glasgow yard last year to improve its efficiency and give it a better chance of winning contracts once work on the second long-delayed CalMac ferry comes to an end.

MSPs on Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee had sought further clarity from the government on what the £14.2 million had been spent on.

In correspondence dated October 6, Ms Forbes said 11 capex (capital expenditure) requests from Ferguson Marine totalling more than £570,000 had been approved.

These included “facility repairs, health and safety improvements, and equipment upgrades”.

Her letter said: “Access to the remainder of the modernisation funding will be conditional on a clear, Board-approved business case, evidenced through the revised business plan.”

Ms Forbes added: “We are committed to strengthening governance, targeting investment effectively, and supporting Ferguson Marine to become a sustainable, competitive shipyard.

“With the MV Glen Sannox now in service and Glen Rosa progressing towards delivery, the priority is to embed lessons learned and ensure the yard is placed on a firmer footing to secure future work.”

The latest forecast cost for Glen Rosa, the second of two ferries being built at the yard, is £185 million.

It is currently due to be handed over in the second half of next year.

Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary, said the government and its ferry-procuring agency were failing island communities and workers.

Unions and other civic groups have been calling on the government to directly award a new ferry replacement contract to Ferguson Marine in order to secure the future of the yard.

She said: “Ministers must stop delivering excuses for a failure to invest in Ferguson’s future and start awarding contracts.

“How can managers detail the investment needed to deliver future contracts when ministers and CMAL refuse to award those contracts?

“It is an absurd Catch-22 situation and cannot continue.

“It is beyond time for the transport secretary and CMAL to show they have a plan for Ferguson’s along with the vision, ambition and investment to deliver it.”

Richard Leonard , convener of the Public Audit Committee, said MSPs would consider the letter from the Deputy First Minister.

He said: “While the Deputy First Minister has supplied more detail, our Committee has been clear about the need for urgent investment in the yard so that it can compete.

“The Public Audit Committee will need to consider the extent to which the letter provides us with the reassurance we sought on the future of this historic yard.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Work on Ferguson’s investment programme began in December 2024 with approved funding directed towards addressing essential repairs and new equipment to enhance yard productivity.

“The Scottish Budget 2025-26 allocates £46 million of capital to Ferguson Marine for the financial year commencing April 1 2025.

“Up to the financial year 2026-27 the Scottish Government has committed to invest up to £14.2 million over two years in Ferguson Marine, subject to due diligence and commercial standards being met.”