Exclusive:Ferguson Marine hoping for lifeline with contracts to build new fisheries vessels

The Port Glasgow yard, which will have no major work after completing the Glen Rosa ferry for CalMac by next June, said it was at a “crossroads in its history” with an “uncertain future”.

Chief executive Graeme Thomson said it was “uniquely placed” to build the two boats, along with a research vessel for a UK Government agency.

It follows The Scotsman revealing in May that the yard was lobbying to be handed the order to replace the 500-passenger CalMac ferry Lord of the Isles, which it built 36 years ago.

Ferguson Marine has its eyes on building replacements for the Scottish Government’s marine research vessel Scotia, which it completed in 1998, and its marine protection vessel Minna, which was finished five years later.

The yard would also like to construct a replacement for research vessel Cefas Endeavour, which was also finished in 2003, and is operated by the UK Government’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science.

Scotia and Cefas Endeavour are advanced fisheries research vessels with ultra-low underwater noise levels for scientific surveys of the North Sea and Atlantic.

Minna is one of Scotland’s smallest marine protection vessels, for inshore fisheries enforcement.

Mr Thomson said: “These vessels are great examples of Clydebuilt excellence and the type of ships we have excelled at building in the past.

“Ferguson Marine is uniquely placed to build the replacements for these great ships, given our proximity, experience having delivered the current versions of these vessels, some of which operate beyond their intended life cycle and the technical skills of our talented team.

“The only thing that has prevented us from winning these kinds of contracts in more recent years is our ability to compete on price with overseas shipyards.

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“We would welcome an award of the contract to build any of these vessels, but at the very least would like to see social value [of the yard to the economy] included as part of the tender process to level the playing field.

“Not only are we best placed to build these vessels, but this presents an opportunity for us to strengthen our book of orders and create a sustainable future for Ferguson Marine.”

The 68 metre-long Scotia was built for the then Scottish Office agriculture, environment and fisheries department, with space for 18 crew and 12 scientists.

It was the fourth such ship to bear the name, with the vessel’s predecessor also built by the yard.

The first was a former Norwegian whaling ship which was rebuilt in Troon before being used by explorer William Speirs Bruce for the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition of 1902-04.

The previous Ferguson-built Scotia, also 68 metres long, was completed in 1971, and operated as a support ship the following year in the second “cod war” between the UK and Iceland after the latter unilaterally extended its fishing limits.

With British trawlers being harassed by Icelandic gunboats, Scotia was fitted with an emergency operating theatre and casualty reception area in case required.

The present vessel was named by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in Aberdeen, where it has been based.

It is used for fish stock assessment, by trawling, acoustic surveys and sampling, and environmental monitoring.

The yard predicted when the research vessel was completed that it would “prove itself to be among the finest in the world”.

It said it hoped Scotia “fulfils her early promise and provides an invaluable service to the fishing industry”.

The 47 metre-long Minna was built to accommodate 17 people.

Cefas Endeavour, 74 metres-long, was built with space for 16 crew and 19 scientists, and is based at Lowestoft in Suffolk.

The GMB, the yard’s biggest union, called for the contracts sought by Ferguson Marine to be directly awarded to the yard.

Its Scotland secretary Louise Gilmour said: “Contracts cannot be decided on price alone when foreign yards are underpinned by lower wages and higher tax breaks.

“The need for the Scottish Government to directly award contracts to build ships in Port Glasgow is beyond urgent.”

The Scottish Government has left the door open to possible direct awards.

Its spokesperson said: "Shipbuilding is a competitive global market and any direct award of a public contract must comply with procurement rules and be capable of withstanding legal challenge.

“Ministers will consider future vessel contracts, including those mentioned, from public agencies at an appropriate time and on a case-by-case basis to determine whether any might legally be open to direct award.

“We are currently considering the business case and next steps in relation to the Lord of the Isles replacement and will confirm these in due course.”