Greene: Big questions for SNP as Ferguson guarantees expire in a month

Scottish Liberal Democrat transport spokesperson and West Scotland MSP Jamie Greene has today said that the SNP government have “big questions to answer” about the future of publicly owned Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow as he revealed the government’s financial guarantees to the shipyard run out in October.

In a letter to the Scottish Parliament’s Public Audit Committee, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes stated that the Scottish Government’s letter of comfort to Ferguson, which provides financial guarantees and support to the shipyard, expires in October 2025.

She stated that “work is underway to develop a new letter of comfort” to the yard, but that “the scope and nature of any future assurances will be informed by the yard’s forthcoming business plan and by greater clarity on the contract pipeline once Glen Rosa has been handed over,” offering no timescale for the level of financial support, or for how long any ongoing support would be forthcoming.

Ferguson is still waiting to receive the majority of the £14.2 million investment for vital upgrades SNP ministers promised it more than a year ago.

The Glen Rosa, the second new ferry due to serve the Isle of Arran, is seven years late and tens of millions of pounds overbudget, with the Finance Secretary yet to announce how much additional money will be needed to complete the vessel. She has also yet to agree to fund the finality of the build.

The yard has stated that £35 million might likely be needed to finish the ship, but no guarantees have been offered by ministers to fund the project till completion.

It comes just days after Alex Cole-Hamilton challenged the First Minister on the exclusion of many islands and coastal communities from the Scottish Government’s scheme that pays out compensation for ferry disruption.

Jamie Greene MSP said:

“The imminent expiry of these assurances raises big questions for the Deputy First Minister and the SNP government, a government which has managed to obliterate Scottish shipbuilding through a series of fiascos.

“Ministers are fond of saying they want a future of the yard, but there is a lot of uncertainty about what awaits Ferguson once the funding stream runs out.

“Serious questions remain over the future of yard as it has been snubbed for contracts, and the SNP are yet to agree for how long they will fund the business as a going concern.

“The Glen Rosa is already severely delayed and promised government investment in the yard has fallen by the wayside. The SNP have sent votes of confidence in Turkish and Polish shipbuilding, but very little in our own.

“The skilled workforce at Ferguson deserves better than a government that manages to bungle things for them at every opportunity. The Deputy First Minister should provide a clearer timeline for when fresh guarantees can be provided and when the yard can expect the promised but as yet undelivered investment it needs to survive.

“She must also explain to taxpayers how large the blank cheque really is when it comes to keeping the doors open without any major new contracts."