Ferguson Shipbuilders could yet be saved

Ferguson Shipbuilders could yet be saved

Workers and shipyard supporters will hope to see repeat of 2005's JURA launch (Photo Copyright 2005 Brian Climie)

Hopes are running high that an 11th hour reprieve could be on the cards for Ferguson Shipbuilders after Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell told members of the Scottish Parliament that the Executive would speed up the tendering process for a multi-million pound fisheries protection vessel.

Workers and shipyard supporters will be hoping the yard can bid, win and see a repeat of the launch of fpv JURA in April 2005

Ferguson's of Port Glasgow on the Clyde had previously put in a bid for the work but the tender process was halted because ministers feared there were irregularities that would have breached EU rules.

Whilst the Scottish Executive cannot simply gift the order to Ferguson's, Mr McConnell said he hoped Ferguson's could put in a bid that would beat their rivals.

The announcement will have a double edge to it politically as cynics will say this is electioneering whilst lobbyists for other shipyards will watch the tendering process and eventual award very keenly.

It is hoped that bringing forward the tender process will mean a bid can be made before recently announced redundancies at the Clyde yard start to take effect.

"The cabinet agreed yesterday to take immediate action to ensure the tendering process that is due on the fisheries vessel happens within this 90-day period, to provide an assurance to Ferguson's that they will be in a position to indicate an interest to tender," said Mr McConnell.

"There will be, in our view, a more professional tendering process this time round and therefore we hope that not just Ferguson's but other yards will be able to compete on a fair and consistent basis."

The row that has erupted since layoffs at the shipyard were announced last week has centred mainly on a perceived lack of care on the part of the Scottish Executive with a wide range of voices criticising the SE for being slaves to EU procurement rules and for abandoning the Scottish yard, its workforce and skills.

However Mr McConnell said, "I want to assure the chamber that first of all Scottish Enterprise, with the encouragement of ministers, have been actively involved in discussions with Ferguson's about diversification, about developing their ability to win contracts in the future and the kind of work they could be applying for."

Ferguson Shipbuilders is the last purely commercial large shipbuilder on the Clyde and is in an area of high unemployment and deprivation.