SNP ferry scheme suffers fresh blow after rain causes ship to flood
The SNP's disastrous ferry-replacement programme suffered another blow after a vessel that was already six years behind schedule flooded.
The MV Glen Rosa, which is running £100m over budget, filled with rainwater after the funnels were removed at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.
It is understood that engineers removed the smokestacks to allow the installation of the ferry's engines, with one of the tarpaulins used to cover the holes created coming loose.
Sudden heavy rainfall subsequently saw water pour into the ship, under construction for ferry operator CalMac, before the exposed exhaust vent could be covered again.
Hugh McKenzie, the operations manager at Ferguson Marine, said the Glen Rosa had 'experienced some internal water ingress' during heavy rainfall at the end of last month.
He said: 'The affected area has been dried out and thoroughly inspected. No damage or lasting impact was identified, and the incident has not resulted in any further issues.'
Before the flooding, Mr McKenzie said that the removal of the funnels was a 'critical step' in the installation of the ferry's main and auxiliary engines, and had been 'meticulously planned for as part of the build schedule'.
The latest setback comes less than a month after Ferguson Marine said the Glen Rosa would miss its much-revised delivery date of September by up to nine months.
The shipbuilder said it now expected the vessel to be 'substantially complete' only in the first quarter of next year, with delivery between April and June.
Ferguson Marine also revealed that the cost of the Glen Rosa had jumped by a further £35m, meaning that it and the Glen Sannox will come in at more than £460m including written-off loans – more than four and a half times the original contract price.
Taking into account the £252m spent on keeping ageing vessels in service to cover for the delays, the overall bill is more than £700m, CalMac has stated.
Both new vessels were ordered for CalMac's busiest route, linking the Isle of Arran with the Scottish mainland.
Ferguson Marine is desperate for work after Caledonian Maritime, which procures vessels for CalMac and reports to Scotland's transport minister, awarded a deal for seven smaller electric ferries to a Polish firm.
Despite the failures and upheaval, the SNP last month awarded CalMac a £3.9bn deal to run ferries to the Hebrides for a further decade without the contract being put out to tender.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
US depends on Canadian oil, despite Trump's comments, Cenovus CEO says
By Amanda Stephenson CALGARY (Reuters) -The U.S. relies on Canadian oil imports, despite comments to the contrary by U.S. President Donald Trump, Cenovus Energy CEO said on Tuesday. Trump has threatened on-again, off-again tariffs on Canada's oil, of which nearly 4 million barrels per day are exported to the United States. Canada is the world's fourth-largest oil producer, and fifth-largest natural gas producer. Trump has previously said the U.S. does not need to import goods, including oil and gas, from Canada. Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney, who won a minority government in April on a wave of anti-Trump voter sentiment, has said the country's old relationship with the U.S. based on steadily increasing economic integration is over. Jon McKenzie, who heads oil sands company Cenovus and chairs the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers industry group, said trade tensions between the two nations have highlighted the need for Canada to diversify its exports. But he said that need does not take away from the fact the two countries' energy systems are inextricably linked. "What hasn't changed is energy economics and energy physics. The reality is we are hardwired into the U.S. system," McKenzie said at an energy conference in Calgary, Alberta. Canada depends on U.S. refiners to buy the vast majority of its exported oil, while landlocked U.S. refineries in the Midwest are configured to process the grade of crude that Canada produces. McKenzie said Canada has the opportunity to grow its oil output in the coming decades, and added the country's new government needs to recognize Canada's co-dependence with the U.S. and seek to improve that relationship. "We need to make sure that we don't act viscerally when we're threatened, and that we act intelligently in our long-term interest," he said. As part of its response to the U.S. tariff threat, Carney has pledged to identify and fast-track projects of national interest aimed at helping Canada become what he calls a conventional and clean energy superpower. McKenzie said the oil and gas sector does not want the federal government to pick winners and losers by deciding which projects to fast-track. He said the industry instead wants to see broad regulatory reform that will remove barriers to investing in oil and gas projects. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Plans for Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort stalled
The Scottish government has stalled plans for a controversial holiday park at Loch Lomond. Ministers had previously been set to give permission for the development, overturning the national park authority which said it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation policies. Theme park operator Flamingo Land believed it would be given the go-ahead to build a £40m resort called Lomond Banks, featuring a waterpark, monorail, hotel and restaurants. The Scottish government's Minister for Public Finance, Ivan McKee, has now said he will recall the plans because "the development raises issues of national significance in view of its potential impact on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park". He said: "This means that the appeal should be determined at a national level." McKee has previously resisted calls for ministers to intervene in the decision to allow the plans to go forward. Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort set for approval Loch Lomond Flamingo Land resort rejected by park authority What is happening with Flamingo Land at Loch Lomond? The original proposal sparked protests and was initially rejected last September by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park authority, who said it did not comply with environmental and nature conservation policies. But that was appealed to the Scottish government reporter, who last month said they intended to grant permission - subject to a legal agreement between Flamingo Land and the park. Government reporters consider the vast majority of appeals, appointed by ministers to make a decision on their behalf. However some of these are "recalled" by ministers who will then make the final decision themselves. When the Scottish government reporter announced in May the intention to back the plans, development director for Lomond Banks Jim Paterson said it was a "real milestone moment" which had been "a long time in the making". But Scottish Greens MSP Ross Greer, who has been a long-standing critic of the plan, said the development would cause "irreversible damage" and the decision was an "anti-democratic outrage". Following Ivan McKee's 's latest announcement, Greer said it was "the right move". He added: "The evidence of the damage it would do to one of Scotland's most iconic locations is overwhelming. "Once ministers consider the flood risk, loss of ancient woodland, hundreds of additional cars which would be brought onto notoriously congested roads and the litany of other devastating impacts it would have, I am sure they will reject the mega-resort application and finally end this decade-long saga." The decision comes ahead of a vote in the Scottish Parliament on the issue, led by Scottish Labour. The party's deputy leader Jackie Baillie welcomed McKee's decision to recall plan, saying: "It shouldn't have taken the fear of a defeat in Parliament to force them to reach this decision. "The SNP has ignored concerns time and time again – from politicians across the chamber and from local campaigners." The Balloch and Haldane Community Council previously said it was "deeply disappointed" in the decision to approve park plans. The group said this "contradicts the expressed will of the community". A spokesperson added: "This is not just a bad planning decision, it is a fundamental failure of democracy and policy. "This decision rides roughshod over the principles of community empowerment, environmental protection, and democratic accountability. Flamingo Land first submitted plans for the site in 2018, but withdrew them the following year after a wave of negative reaction. It submitted updated plans in 2020, insisting the proposal would be a "major step away" from its other resorts, including a theme park and zoo in Yorkshire. But the Loch Lomond park authority board ruled that the updated scheme still conflicted with both regional and national environmental policies. Stuart Pearce, "director of place" for the park authority, previously said the plans created "unacceptable risk" of flooding of the River Leven. More than 174,000 people signed a petition against the project. The Flamingo Land resort in North Yorkshire has been operating since 1959, initially as a zoo. The name comes from a colony of the brightly coloured birds that were among the first animals on the site at Kirby Misperton. By the 1970s, the zoo was losing money, and the attraction was revamped as a "day out" experience with a growing focus on amusement rides. The Yorkshire site continues to have exotic animals, and there is also a large holiday village with static caravans and lodges.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Glasgow train repair centre secures contract from TfL
Gibson's Engineering, a train repair centre located in Glasgow, Scotland, has secured a contract from Transport for London (TfL) for the refurbishment of 23 long vehicle wagons over a two-year period. This contract is expected to generate 40 new employment opportunities at the St Rollox rail depot in Springburn, where the company recently established its engineering facility. Paul Sweeney MSP said: 'The award of this major contract from Transport for London (TfL) demonstrates that 'The Caley' has a viable future after being written off when the works closed down in 2019, after 163 years of operation. 'I know the difference it is going to make to Springburn by providing skilled jobs for our young people and reviving local pride in skilled manufacturing work.' The site was closed in 2019 and later acquired in 2021 by businessman David Moulsdale. Since the acquisition, the facility has undergone a £10m investment aimed at revitalising its operations. Gibson's Engineering managing director Fraser Gibson said: 'This is fantastic news for Gibson's, as well as for the wider Scottish rail industry. "Since reopening St Rollox, Dougie and I have worked to restore its position as a centre for engineering excellence. "This contract shows that we are well on our way to seeing The Caley thrive again, with a rapidly expanding workforce and significant new projects." In November 2024, TfL chose GTS Rail Operations as the new operator for the Elizabeth line, with the contract starting in May 2025. The joint venture, which includes Go Ahead Group, Tokyo Metro, and Sumitomo, will oversee the line for seven years, with a possible two-year extension. "Glasgow train repair centre secures contract from TfL" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
