Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 20 April 2022
The member will be aware that, because of the delays, work is being done on a regular basis to assess the fitness for purpose of parts that have been purchased previously. I am not aware of the specifics that the member talks about, but if he has any information on those points, I would be delighted to pass it on.
I want to talk a wee bit about the Audit Scotland report that sets out the challenges that we took on when we rescued Ferguson’s from administration in 2019—much of which have already been considered by the Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee in the previous session and debated in the chamber several times.
The decision that we took saved hundreds of jobs and the future of commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde, and it was the right thing to do. We stand by the commitment to the shipbuilding communities in Inverclyde and the island communities that rely on the vessels that the yard will deliver.
The Audit Scotland report says that
“the turnaround of FMPG is extremely challenging”
and highlights that Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow
“has implemented some of the significant operational improvements that were required at the shipyard”.
The challenges have been great. The initial report on the state of the yard in December 2019 sets out the scale and depth of the business turnaround that is required to put Ferguson Marine on a stable footing.
Covid has slowed the turnaround efforts—the yard has had to shut down twice due to the pandemic and has worked at reduced capacity for many months as a result of the implementation of necessary distancing requirements and the impact of Covid sickness absence and self-isolation. However, despite those significant challenges, progress has been made. The new permanent chief exec has been in post since February and brings a fresh vision and a new approach. A more collaborative culture is in place that ensures much closer work with CMAL.