Clydeside: Ferguson Shipyard Nationalised by Scottish Government

17th August 2019

Clydeside shipyard Ferguson Marine is to be nationalised by the Scottish Government if no buyer is secured within four weeks. Above: Afloat adds is a file photo of newbuild Glen Sannox, first of a pair of much delayed dual-fuel ferries for CalMac. This ferry is destined for the Firth of Clyde service linking Ardrossan and Isle of Arran. Credit: Getty Images / BBC News Scotland-facebook

On the Clyde the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow has been nationalised by the Scottish government.

Ministers reports BBC News, will now operate the yard under a management agreement with administrators, which will see the Scottish government buy the facility if no private buyer is found within four weeks.

Ferguson has been involved in a dispute with the Scottish government over the construction of two ferries for CalMac.

About 300 people work at the yard.

The deal means the yard will no longer be owned by industrialist Jim McColl, who could not persuade ministers to pay more than the £97m contract price for the disputed ferries.

The agreement also means work on the CalMac ferries, and other contracts, can continue while efforts to find a commercial buyer get under way.

Administrator Deloitte described the ferry contract as being "materially behind schedule and over budget".

More on this latest development can be read here

Published in Ports & Shipping

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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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