Ferguson shipyard misses out on new CalMac ferry order

The nationalised Ferguson shipyard has missed out on a crucial order for seven small all-electric ferries for west coast operator Caledonian MacBrayne.

Ferries procurement agency CMAL has instead named a Polish firm, Remontowa, as preferred bidder for the Small Vessels Replacement Programme (SVRP).

Ferguson’s, the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, had vowed to bid “aggressively” for the contract and had made it onto a shortlist of six bidders.

The new “loch-class” vessels are due to start joining the CalMac fleet from 2027 onwards.

The contract was a key part of Ferguson Marine’s five-year business plan following delays and cost overruns in the construction of two much larger ferries for CalMac.

The 50m (164ft) all-electric ferries are similar to ones it has delivered successfully in the past and could have given it a pipeline of repeatable work lasting several years.

But the Port Glasgow shipyard is also pursuing other business opportunities, including defence sub-contracting work from BAE Systems and private sector work.

Remontowa, based in Gdansk, has previously built the CalMac ferries MV Argyle, MV Bute and MV Finlaggan, and was runner up to Ferguson’s when the contracts for MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa were awarded in 2015.

The Scottish government has allocated £175m for the electric ferries and upgrades of charging infrastructure at harbours.

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said the bids had been assessed against a range of technical criteria, weighted 65% on quality and 35% on cost.

He said: “It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels which meet the needs of islanders, but that also deliver the best value for the public purse.

“We are confident in Remontowa’s ability, and have worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of the MV Finlaggan in 2011.”

The new ferries will operate on the Colintraive-Rhubodach (Bute); Lochaline-Fishnish (Mull); Tarbert (Loch Fyne)-Portavadie; Iona-Fionnphort (Mull); Sconser-Raasay; Tobermory-Kilchoan (Mull); and Tayinloan-Gigha routes.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.