Ferguson Marine has secured a direct award from the Scottish Government to build four newbuild vessels, providing a five-year pipeline of vessel build work for the Port Glasgow shipyard.
The new contracts covering the design and vessel build of two ferries and two specialist vessels, will support jobs at one of the UK’s historic shipyards while providing long-term operational assets for Scotland’s maritime sector.
“This direct award does more than just help with our order book; it underpins our future, improves our resilience and confirms our strategic importance to the country,” said Duncan Anderson, chair of Ferguson Marine.
“The Scottish Government’s intention to award us four new vessels marks the beginning of a new chapter for Ferguson Marine, securing our enduring legacy and ensuring we progress toward being a leader in the industry in years to come.”
Healthy order book
The package includes the design and build of a new Marine Protection Vessel (MPV) and a Marine Research Vessel (MRV) for Marine Scotland.
These ships will replace the existing MPV Minna and MRV Scotia, both originally built by Ferguson Marine and which are now nearing the end of their operational lives.
In addition, the award covers two passenger ferries for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) under the second phase of the Scottish Government’s Small Vessel Replacement Programme.
The ferries will support lifeline services across Scotland’s island communities and continue the shipyard’s long-standing role in delivering vessels for the CalMac fleet.
Ferguson Marine has previously built around a third of the ferries currently operating for CalMac, many of which have now exceeded their intended service lives. The new vessel build programme will therefore play a key role in fleet renewal.
The direct award also supports plans to modernise the Port Glasgow facility, strengthening the competitiveness of Scottish shipyards while sustaining skilled maritime jobs on the Clyde.
