New chairman to take helm of nationalised shipyard

A new interim chairman has been appointed for Ferguson Marine, the nationalised shipyard in Port Glasgow.

Duncan Anderson will take over from the current board chairman Andrew Miller, who will step down at the end of his three-year term next month.

Mr Anderson is a chartered marine engineer with more than 40 years of experience in ship operations and shipbuilding.

The change of board leadership comes at a crucial time for the shipyard, which is working to complete the CalMac ferry MV Glen Rosa as well as seeking new orders to secure a future for its 300-strong workforce.

Mr Miller, who was appointed chairman in 2023 after a seven-year stint at state-owned Prestwick Airport, was at times a controversial figure.

He played a key role last year in the sacking the former chief executive David Tydeman, seen by many as a stabilising figure who made progress in delivering the CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox after years of delays.

But he was dismissed after a series of missed deadlines and substantial cost increases, with the chairman also claiming he had offered “unsubstantiated opinions” to MSPs without the authorisation of the board.

Earlier this year, Mr Miller was criticised for “tone deaf” comments when he compared the effect of media scrutiny of Ferguson’s to the physical abuse of children who then struggled to become “well-rounded” adults.

The chief executive of Ferguson Marine, Graeme Thomson, who joined the firm in May, paid tribute to the outgoing chairman, saying “several significant milestones” were achieved during his tenure.

Ferguson Marine said Mr Miller would leave the role at the end of November “to focus on future work arrangements, overseas obligations, and family commitments”.

It said the new interim chairman had been involved in the construction of more than 100 vessels during his career in shipyards in Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia.