Kate Forbes avoids 'hypocrisy' row as she welcomes Fergusons' contract
Now the Port Glasgow yard will be put to work supporting the construction of HMS Birmingham by BAE Systems at its Govan shipyard in Glasgow.
The frigate is the first ship to be built under a £4.2 billion contract secured by the firm to deliver five warships.
The Scottish Conservatives have called the SNP's backing of Ferguson's involvement 'hypocrisy on stilts' after the Scottish Government previously failed to provide funding for a welding centre being built in Clydebank by defence contractors Rolls-Royce and the Malin Group.
Labour also urged the SNP to ditch its 'student union politics on' defence.
HMS Birmingham arrives at Govan under a tarpaulin shed (Image: NQ) However, Ms Forbes made no reference to the row as she welcomed the prospect of work at the yard, saying: 'This contract award is a positive demonstration of the shipyard's capabilities, skills and ability to win work in a commercial playing field, and most importantly, the workers at Ferguson Marine.
'The Scottish Government's decision to take Ferguson Marine into public ownership saved the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde and we continue to ensure the long-term future of the Yard and the workforce, with investment of up to £14.2 million in the yard over the next two years in order to help it modernise and secure further future business.
In its press release, Ferguson Marine said the vessel would 'provide the Royal Navy with the most advanced anti-submarine warfare capability available'.
The announcement is a rare spot of good news for the yard, which had no orders on its books outside of the completion of the Glen Rosa ferry.
The ship and its sister vessel Glen Sannox were first ordered in 2015 and were due to be ready in 2018. While the Sannox launched this year, the latter is unlikely to be in the water before 2026.
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