Latest news with #CammellLaird
Daily Record
25-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Ferguson Marine loses out again on new ferry contract in 'disappointing' blow
The Ferguson Marine shipyard on the River Clyde has lost out again on a contract to build new ferries. The nationalised firm, based in Port Glasgow , had submitted a bid to build two new small vessels for Western Ferries' Gourock to Dunoon route on the river, which was used by 1.2 million passengers last year. However, the BBC reported on Friday, April 25 that the ferry operator announced Cammell Laird, based at Birkenhead, Merseyside, was its preferred bidder to take on the contract. Two of Western Ferries' current fleet were built in the early 2000s when the Ferguson Marine yard was privately owned . The decision has left the firm still with no new orders, after it was snubbed in favour of a Polish yard for a contract to build seven new ferries in March, which was described as a "huge blow" . David Dishon, chief financial officer at Ferguson Marine , said of the latest decision: "Having submitted a high-quality bid, this news is disappointing. "However, Ferguson Marine remains focused on securing new work from a range of sources to build its pipeline." Mr Dishon said private investment for new vessels was "vitally important" to the economy and congratulated Cammell Laird on their winning bid. He added: "We wish both companies every success and hope to continue our long-standing working relationship with Western Ferries in the future." Ferguson Marine, which employs around 300 workers in an area of high deprivation, was nationalised in 2019 after struggling to deliver two new car ferries, MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa , the latter of which has still not been completed. MV Glen Sannox received praise from passengers after it was launched on the Arran route in January. However, it was pulled from service just two months later after a hairline crack in its hull led to a leak. It was quickly repaired and the ferry returned to service two days later.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Ferguson shipyard misses out on Clyde small ferries contract
A contract to build two new small ferries for the River Clyde has gone to a shipyard in MerseysidePrivately-owned Western Ferries announced that Cammell Laird, based at Birkenhead, was preferred bidder to build the vessels for its Gourock to Dunoon announcement is a disappointment for the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard which had hoped to win the Port Glasgow based firm has no new orders beyond the CalMac ferry Glen Rosa, but is pursuing contracting work on the Type 26 frigates currently being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow. Western Ferries currently operates four small ferries, two of them built by Ferguson's in 2001 and 2003 when the yard was privately owned by the Dunnet other two ferries, Sound of Seil and Sound of Soay, were previously built by Cammell Laird in Ferries last year carried 1.2 million passengers and 600,000 cars on the Gourock to Dunoon route and employs about 60 people. Ferguson's employs about 300 workers and apprentices in an area of high deprivation and has built six out of the 10 largest ships currently in CalMac's the firm has struggled with construction of MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, the first dual-fuel ferries built in the UK capable of running on liquefied natural challenges, disputes over rising costs and an acrimonious stand-off with the customer CMAL saw the firm return to administration in 2019 when it was nationalised, with problems continuing under public Glen Sannox - which started carrying passengers in January - has been praised by ferry users on the Arran the ship was unexpectedly taken out of service in March after a hairline crack in a weld on its hull led to a small fault was quickly repaired and the ship resumed sailings two days second ship MV Glen Rosa is in the final stages of construction and is due for delivery in the autumn.
