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Scottish First Minister Says She Will 'Not Apologise' for Saving Ferguson Shipyard

6th May 2022
The Clyde shipyard of Ferguson Marine, were the issue of the shipyard was raised by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross at FMQs. The Clyde shipyard of Ferguson Marine, were the issue of the shipyard was raised by Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross at FMQs. Credit: The HeraldScotland-twitter

The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has said she will “not apologise” for decisions taken with the aim of saving the shipyard Ferguson Marine.

The Clyde yard was nationalised in 2019, but island communities are still awaiting the delivery of two new ferries (see CalMac naming story), with the project facing delays as well as being over-budget.

Earlier this week, businessman Jim McColl hit out at the First Minister over her claim that the yard would have closed had the Government not intervened.
McColl accused the SNP leader of lying about the number of jobs that were saved at the yard at the time and said there was “no danger” of the yard closing at the time.

The First Minister, however, has defended the actions taken by her government, as she pointed to 400 workers who are currently employed at the yard.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions on Wednesday – being held a day early at the Scottish Parliament due to the local election on Thursday.

STV News has further coverage on the shipyard issue raised at Holyrood, the Scottish parliament.

Published in Shipyards
Jehan Ashmore

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals. 

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Shipyards

Afloat will be focusing on news and developments of shipyards with newbuilds taking shape on either slipways and building halls.

The common practice of shipbuilding using modular construction, requires several yards make specific block sections that are towed to a single designated yard and joined together to complete the ship before been launched or floated out.

In addition, outfitting quays is where internal work on electrical and passenger facilities is installed (or upgraded if the ship is already in service). This work may involve newbuilds towed to another specialist yard, before the newbuild is completed as a new ship or of the same class, designed from the shipyard 'in-house' or from a naval architect consultancy. Shipyards also carry out repair and maintenance, overhaul, refit, survey, and conversion, for example, the addition or removal of cabins within a superstructure. All this requires ships to enter graving /dry-docks or floating drydocks, to enable access to the entire vessel out of the water.

Asides from shipbuilding, marine engineering projects such as offshore installations take place and others have diversified in the construction of offshore renewable projects, from wind-turbines and related tower structures. When ships are decommissioned and need to be disposed of, some yards have recycling facilities to segregate materials, though other vessels are run ashore, i.e. 'beached' and broken up there on site. The scrapped metal can be sold and made into other items.