Ferguson Marine delays delivery of Glen Rosa again to late next year

The delivery of the much-delayed and over-budget ferry the Glen Rosa has been put back again, with Ferguson Marine saying it will not now arrive until late next year.

It had been hoped the vessel would be delivered to ferry operator CalMac in the second quarter of 2026, but a deterioration in its hull coating and corrosion in the stern tubes discovered during a period of drydocking in August has led to the latest delay.

According to the yard, another period in drydock is required, but the earliest available slot is “later in 2026”.

With the necessary trials and crew familiarisation then required for the ship to enter service, it could be 2027 before islanders are served by the Glen Rosa.

The delay means the Glen Rosa will not be in service ahead of the election in May, after First Minister John Swinney told STV News it would be last summer.

The announcement came in a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

The delay is the latest in a long line of issues facing two ferries built at the Government-owned yard in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, with both the Glen Rosa and its sister ship the Glen Sannox due to have been delivered in 2018 to serve the route between the Isle of Arran and the mainland.

The Glen Sannox entered service in January this year.

The bill for both vessels has soared to more than £460 million – despite an initial contract price of just £97 million – with the new delays likely to increase costs further.

Graeme Thomson, the latest chief executive of the yard and the man hoped to steer the facility back towards the private sector, said the firm “deeply regret” the delay.

“I am acutely aware of the disruption this causes and want to offer a sincere apology to all those impacted, particularly the island communities patiently waiting for the vessel to enter service,” he said.

“Glen Rosa has been and will continue to be a complex project, but the team and I are fully committed to doing everything we can to bring forward delivery and being as transparent as possible about where we are in the process.”

Reasons for the issues afflicting the Glen Rosa have been identified, the yard said, with fixes due to be put in place.

Mr Thomson, however, has one eye on the future, adding: “While these setbacks have confirmed historic systemic issues within our operations, they do not define our future.

“We are embarking on an ambitious modernisation journey that will transform Ferguson Marine whilst we work extremely hard to deliver a Clyde-built vessel that showcases our commitment to the highest standards of safety and quality.”

Louise Gilmour, the Scotland secretary for the trade union GMB, said: “No-one wants these ferries finished more than the blameless workers and they deserve the opportunity to turn the page, rebuild their yard’s reputation and deliver for Scotland’s islanders.

“It is beyond time for ministers to understand the strategic value of this yard, recognise its potential as a key industrial asset, and offer the support and work needed to secure its shipbuilding future.

“The contracts to build the Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox should have burnished Ferguson’s worldwide reputation for excellence but, instead, shredded it.

“Skilled and committed shipbuilders have been lions led by donkeys as they strove to complete contracts undermined by the hubris, incompetence and mismanagement of ministers, Government agencies, and executives from the very start.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes described the delay as “deeply disappointing”, offering her apologies to islanders who would be impacted.

“I know that it is not a decision which has been taken lightly, however it is a necessity to complete the work and to help prevent future issues,” she said.

“I welcome the further update from the yard, which sets out the new management team’s positive progress in enhancing workforce skills, improving financial governance and strengthening leadership.

“Production processes are also being streamlined to increase competitiveness.

“There is still work to do to secure a sustainable, long-term future for Ferguson’s, but I am encouraged by the steps being taken and the Scottish Government remains steadfast in its support for the company and its workers.”

Scottish Conservative transport spokeswoman Sue Webber said the news is “dreadful” for islanders.

“They have been betrayed at every turn by the SNP’s incompetence and this is the latest in a litany of broken promises,” she said.

“It’s scandalous that this announcement has been made on the sly – it means MSPs cannot hold the Government to account in Parliament.

“John Swinney gave a categorical reassurance a matter of months ago that the Glen Rosa would be setting sail before May’s election. That always looked like a fanciful pledge, and he owes every islander an urgent apology.

“Taxpayers will undoubtedly pick up yet further costs for these huge delays, having already been hit with a bill for hundreds of millions.”

A separate update from ferry procurement arm Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has revealed a small delay in the delivery of a new ferry due to serve the Outer Hebrides.

CMAL had hoped the MV Isle of Islay would be delivered ahead of Christmas before making the journey from its Turkish-based builder back to Scotland, but some of the compartments have not been completed on schedule.