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Scotsman
03-05-2025
- Scotsman
Cause of Glen Sannox ferry hull crack revealed
Fault forced Glen Sannox out of service for repairs two months after debut Sign up for the latest news and analysis about Scottish transport Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Vibration in CalMac's brand new ferry Glen Sannox may have caused the crack in its hull, the operator has told The Scotsman. The fault in a weld seam forced the vessel out of service for two days for repairs in March, two months after being deployed on the route between Troon and Brodick in Arran. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Glen Sannox arriving in Brodick on its first official passenger sailing on January 13. Picture: John Devlin | John Devlin/The Scotsman CalMac said the 130mm (5in) 'minor' defect close to the waterline included a 25mm (1in) section that had let in a 'very small amount of water'. Holes were drilled at each end of the crack to prevent it expanding and the seam was re-welded. The Scottish Government firm, which is Britain's biggest ferry operator, said the defect was on the starboard [right] side of a machinery space near the starboard rudder. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The ferry, which is CalMac's second largest with space for more than 850 passengers, was completed six-and-a-half years late in November by the Ferguson Marine shipyard. A CalMac spokeswoman said: 'Investigations have so far discovered vibration in this particular area of Glen Sannox, which may have caused the seam to crack. 'Mitigations are now in place for the vibration, which only occurs near where the crack appeared. 'Further investigation into the root cause of the vibration is underway and CalMac, [Scottish Government ferry owning firm] Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal) and Ferguson Marine are working together on this. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It is not uncommon to have an issue like this as a new vessel is brought into regular service.' CalMac has said such minor weld defects had been found in some of its other ferries, but none were in the three smaller vessels built by Ferguson Marine in the 2010s. Ferguson Marine chief financial officer David Dishon said in March: 'The welding on Glen Sannox was subject to rigorous checks at various points throughout the build and was signed off prior to handover by both Lloyds Register and Cmal. 'The quality of the welding and fabrication by the Ferguson's workforce was praised by Cmal in its inspections of the vessel during the construction process. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are extremely proud of the quality of work we delivered on this and other vessels.' The fault forced the cancellation of sailings between Troon and Brodick in Arran, one of the company's busiest routes, when initially discovered. It came after the Glen Sannox was taken out of service for a week in February to replace parts in the anchor system. At the time the weld seam crack was revealed, Scottish Conservatives transport spokesperson Sue Webber described the fault as a 'hammer blow' to passengers, whom she said had been 'betrayed at every turn' by the Scottish Government. 'After waiting nearly seven years for this massively overbudget vessel, island communities will be dismayed that it's broken down within weeks of its launch,' she said last month. 'The SNP's failure to provide a viable ferry network has left passengers stranded once again.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
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.
STV News
25-04-2025
- Business
- STV News
Ferguson Marine loses out on another ferries contract
Scotland's nationalised shipyard Ferguson Marine has lost out on yet another contract to build new vessels – this time for Western Ferries. On Friday, the multi-million pound contract to build two new small vessels for the Western Ferries fleet was awarded to the APCL Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead, England. David Dishon, chief financial officer at Ferguson Marine, said the news was 'disappointing'. He added: 'Ferguson Marine remains focused on securing new work from a range of sources to build its pipeline.' The two new River Clyde ferries are intended to operate on the Gourock to Dunoon route and reduce the average age of the Western Ferries fleet. Construction will begin shortly with both vessels due to be delivered to the Firth of Clyde in autumn 2026. Western Ferries managing director Gordon Ross said the decision to appoint Cammell Laird over Ferguson's followed a highly competitive process. 'APCL Cammell Laird was selected as the preferred bidder due to the strength of its proposal, demonstrating exceptional value in cost, expertise, and the quality of its shipbuilding facilities,' Mr Ross said. 'Their bid was immensely strong on all fronts, and with their heritage of maritime excellence, we are confident that they will deliver vessels of the highest quality, on time and on budget.' David McGinley, group CEO of APCL Group welcomed the announcement of this latest contract with Western Ferries. 'This contract marks the next major milestone in APCL Group being recognised as the UK's leading commercial shipbuilder,' he said. 'Continued orders from British companies to British shipyards ensure that the UK remains as a leader of commercial shipbuilding on the world stage.' The announcement on Friday marks the second time in two months that Ferguson Marine has been passed over for a new ferries contract. In March, the company lost out on a contract for seven new CalMac ferries to a shipbuilding firm in Poland. Mr Dishon from Ferguson Marine added: 'We are a nation with a proud shipbuilding heritage, it's great to see private investment into the build of new ferries, something vitally important to our economy and sector. 'We want to thank Western Ferries for the opportunity to bid and congratulate Cammell Laird on being selected as the preferred bidder. We wish both companies every success and hope to continue our long-standing working relationship with Western Ferries in the future.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Independent
09-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
‘Uncertainty' around level of support needed for shipyard's future, report says
A report from Ferguson Marine acknowledges 'uncertainty' around the level of government support the state-owned shipyard needs to maintain its operations and continue as a 'going concern'. The Scottish Government has given the shipyard a 'letter of comfort' which offers support for a year-long period following the approval of the annual accounts. But a senior MSP says ministers have failed to grasp the seriousness of the situation and warned that Ferguson Marine will struggle to recruit a permanent replacement for its current interim chief executive. Glen Sannox, the first of two large ferries built at the Port Glasgow shipyard for CalMac, entered service last month. But there are fears the handover of its sister ship, Glen Rosa, which has also been delayed by years, could slip even further behind schedule. The total cost of both vessels approaches £400 million – more than four times the initial £97 million figure. In a company financial statement, first published by The Herald, chief financial officer David Dishon says the board of directors acknowledges 'uncertainty surrounding the future levels of support required'. The statement, from late October, further says there is uncertainty around events or conditions which 'may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern and, that it may be unable to realise its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business'. However, he said the board has a 'reasonable expectation' there will be sufficient resources to continue operating for the foreseeable future. 'Stability at the top' was listed as one of the risks to the company, as well as reputational damage from media attention around the delivery of Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa. Interim chief executive John Petticrew is expected to stay in place until Easter. In December, Audit Scotland said the future of Ferguson Marine was 'uncertain', noting that no further work has been confirmed beyond Glen Rosa. The shipyard is currently bidding against others from around the world to secure a contract for the government's small vessel replacement programme. Edward Mountain, convener of Holyrood's Transport Committee, said the Government 'do not appear to understand the seriousness of the situation'. He said: 'Until the Scottish Government take the future of Ferguson Marine seriously, it will be impossible to recruit a chief executive and retain the many talented staff that work there, who will drift away to other opportunities offered to them on Clydeside.' Mr Petticrew said: 'We are confident that, in partnership with the Scottish Government, we can secure a sustainable, long-term future for Ferguson Marine for the benefit of its workforce and the wider local community. 'We are actively exploring opportunities to secure more commercial work, including but not limited to the small vessel replacement programme and are hopeful that we will be successful in securing more work for the yard. 'In the meantime, Ferguson Marine remains focused on delivering MV Glen Rosa as quickly and efficiently as possible to support and serve Scotland's important island communities.'
