TWO ferries due to be in service in 2018 have been delayed further by coronavirus, the Economy Secretary has said.
The Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow was awarded a £97 million contract to build the vessels, designated 801 and 802, before it collapsed into administration last August and was saved by the Scottish Government.
However, significant delays were discovered in the building of the ships, pushing their completion back to October 2021 and July 2022 for 801 and 802 respectively, as well as increasing the cost by £110.3m.
On Tuesday, Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop told MSPs that the project will be delayed by a further six months each, meaning the ships will not be completed until at least April 2022 and December 2022.
The coronavirus-induced lockdown has also cost an extra £3.3m, Hyslop said, however this will not be treated as an extra cost to the project, but instead an exceptional item.
READ MORE: Ferguson Marine in recovery milestone with Greenock premises let
She told MSPs: "This has been a hugely challenging year for the business. In line with much economic activity across Europe the Covid pandemic has essentially closed the yard for 6 months. Despite that interruption to business much has been achieved."
Concluding her remarks, Hyslop said: "Work to complete the ferries can now proceed at full speed.
"I believe we can look to the future with confidence."
When the extent of the overspend and delays became clear, former finance secretary Derek Mackay blamed mismanagement on the part of Ferguson Marine, calling an inquiry to investigate.
The final evidence session, which will feature Hyslop and islands minister Paul Wheelhouse testifying, will take place tomorrow.
After the scandal was made public, the former director of the shipyard, Jim McColl, said it could cost as much as £300m of public money to get the ships on the water.
Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser asked Hyslop about the possibility of the project's final costs rising so high.
She said: "In relation to those predictions that is nowhere near where we are."
She said the yard is on a mission to complete the ferries "in a far more efficient and productive manner than there had been previously".
READ MORE: Scottish Government taken to court in island fishing row
Previously Kevin Hobbs, the chief executive of ferry procurement body Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), said that costs could rise as high as £250m, when the overspend is taken with a £45m loan from the Scottish Government.
Labour MSP Colin Smyth asked the Economy Secretary who she thought to be at fault for the scandal and if the Scottish Government bares any responsibility.
Hyslop said: "I think the reflection of the improvements that have gone on in the last six months from the last update that was provided to the parliament are significant.
"That's what I'm reporting on today - let the committee have its inquiry into the past, I'm looking at where the yard is today, but most importantly where it can be tomorrow."
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