Ferguson Marine has been handed a potential lifeline after the Deputy First Minister outlined plans to directly award contracts for four new vessels to the Inverclyde yard, alongside fresh investment in modernisation and a long‑term ambition to return the business to private hands. Kate Forbes told MSPs the proposals were designed to move the yard beyond years of controversy over delayed and over‑budget ferries and to put it on a “competitive, productive and sustainable” footing.
Under the plan, Ferguson Marine would build two ferries under phase two of the Small Vessel Replacement Programme, as well as replacements for the marine research vessel Scotia and the marine protection vessel Minna. Ministers argue that a four‑ship pipeline would sustain skilled jobs, support the local economy in Inverclyde and allow the workforce to demonstrate timely, on‑budget delivery on vessels similar to those the yard has built before. The government has already signalled up to £14.2 million of support over two years for upgrades at the site, with recent spending focused on essential repairs, health and safety improvements and targeted equipment.
Forbes stressed that any direct awards must comply with legal and subsidy control rules, with detailed due diligence and engagement with the Competition and Markets Authority under way before contracts can be formally signed. She framed the four‑ship programme as a “bridge” to help Ferguson Marine compete for international work, arguing that a visible orderbook is critical if the Clyde yard is to win further commercial contracts. Returning the yard to private ownership remains an objective, but only once performance and finances are judged robust enough to protect jobs and deliver value for taxpayers.
The statement also revisited the yard’s most high‑profile projects, acknowledging ongoing frustration over delays and cost pressures linked to the dual‑fuel vessels Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa. MV Glen Sannox has now completed her first year in service, while Glen Rosa is due for delivery in the final quarter of 2026. Opposition MSPs pressed the Deputy First Minister on what guarantees she had received that the new vessels would not suffer the same problems, and questioned whether legal or financial hurdles could still derail the latest proposals.
Forbes said she remained in close contact with Ferguson Marine’s leadership over progress on Glen Rosa and insisted that the prospect of additional work created a powerful incentive to finish the ship on time. She paid tribute to the workforce, highlighting union representatives and stressing that staff had been “blameless” throughout the ferries saga, despite intense political scrutiny. The focus of modernisation, she added, would be to align investment with the needs of the new vessel programme, boosting productivity rather than simply patching legacy issues.
In Case You Missed it:
MSPs from across the chamber broadly welcomed the intention to place more work at Ferguson Marine, while continuing to demand tight oversight of costs and delivery timetables. Supporters of the move argued that the Scottish Government must “lead by example” in ordering ships from the state‑owned yard, rather than expecting it to compete for contracts without a secure pipeline. Critics warned, however, that island and coastal communities needed clear assurances that new vessels would be delivered as promised after years of disruption to lifeline ferry services.
Forbes insisted the package of proposed vessel orders and capital funding was a “substantial and clear demonstration” of ministerial confidence in the yard’s future. She said the goal was to shift the narrative from crisis management to long‑term industrial strategy, with Ferguson Marine positioned as a modern yard capable of winning and delivering complex contracts on the open market. “We rescued Ferguson Marine for a purpose,” she told Holyrood, “and we are determined to see it succeed.”
