ECONOMY Secretary Derek Mackay has set a deadline of October for a "robust” new delivery schedule for the pioneering ferries being built at the now publicly owned Ferguson Marine shipyard.
The move came after Mackay chaired the first meeting of the group appointed to ensure the effective completion of the two ferries for Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL), the public company which owns the ferries operated by Caledonian MacBrayne.
On Friday, the Scottish Government took control of the Port Glasgow yard after bosses served notice of their intention to put the business into administration, with 350 jobs at risk. The two new ferries, built to a new hybrid design that would see them powered by marine diesel oil and liquefied natural gas, have been hit by delays, with the timing and costs part of a dispute between the Scottish Government and the former shipyard owner, industrialist Jim McColl.
At yesterday’s meeting, Mackay set a deadline of the end of October for the new public-sector board to detail a “robust delivery schedule”. Speaking after the meeting at the shipyard, he said: “We have always been clear that we want to complete the vessels, secure jobs and give the yard a future.
“On Friday, I met with the excellent workforce and stressed the Scottish Government’s commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for the yard. Today, I convened the first meeting of the newly-established programme review board and tasked them with establishing a new delivery schedule for both vessels and a revised cost window.
“This group will help assess the current situation and ensure the effective and efficient delivery schedule of the CMAL ferry contracts as quickly as possible.”
Transport Scotland’s director of major projects, Michelle Rennie has been appointed to chair the board, on an interim basis. Other members include CMAL’s Jim Anderson, Duncan Mackison from David MacBrayne and Alex Logan for the workforce representatives.
The Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Marine Scotland each have a member on the board. A turnaround director – also on the board – had already been appointed to work to stabilise the business and support the recruitment of an incoming management team, including a chief executive officer.
The two ferries were originally set to cost £97 million. The first, the Glen Sannox, which will operate on the Arran route, is expected to be in service by next summer. The other ship – as yet unnamed – will serve Skye, Harris and North Uist.
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