SNP ferry shambles continues as shipyard bosses announce ANOTHER six month delay to lifeline vessel

The SNP’s long-running ferry shambles continued yesterday aft bosses astatine a nationalised shipyard announced different six-month hold to a lifeline vessel.

The Glen Rosa, already 7 years down schedule, volition not present beryllium handed implicit until the 2nd 4th of 2026, portion the outgo has accrued to a maximum of £185 million.

It had antecedently been hoped the vas would beryllium delivered successful September this year, up of joining the Glen Sannox successful serving the Arran route, though the shipyard had acknowledged a ‘risk’ this deadline would beryllium missed.

The state-owned shipyard has been nether aggravated scrutiny astir the delays and outgo increases of the 2 ferries, which are astir 4 times the archetypal terms tag of £97 million.

The latest update from Ferguson Marine means Glen Rosa's outgo has accrued from £150 cardinal to £172.5 million, with an further ‘risk contingency’ giving a maximum forecasted outgo of £185 million.

Former Babcock main enforcement Graeme Thomson joined Ferguson Marine arsenic its caller main enforcement successful March.

He said: ‘This is not the announcement we wanted to beryllium making astatine this signifier and cannot overstate our knowing of the value of providing realistic handover schedules to enactment CalMac to supply a much reliable and robust work to the communities it serves.

‘No 1 wants to spot the swift transportation of MV Glen Rosa much than Ferguson Marine and we are committed to moving hard to guarantee the vas is delivered wrong this window.

‘We apologise unreservedly to islanders for this further hold and privation to guarantee everyone that we are moving highly hard to present a prime vas that showcases the accomplishment and acquisition of Clydebuilt ships.

‘Once delivered, MV Glen Rosa volition beryllium transformative for our land communities.’

Conservative MSP Sue Webber said the latest hold was ‘astonishing’, adding: ‘The tremendous summation successful some the hold and the outgo of delivering the Glen Rosa beggars content - and yet it is wholly successful keeping with the nationalists’ scandalous mismanagement of our ferry network.

‘In trying to bargain immoderate affirmative headlines, they allowed parts of the Glen Rosa to beryllium cannibalised to forestall further delays to the Glen Sannox.’

She added: ‘Cynics mightiness wonderment if this quality has been deliberately released today, portion attraction is focused connected a large parliamentary vote.’ 

Liberal Democrat MSP Jamie Greene said: “The MV Glen Rosa should person been delivered backmost successful 2018, present islanders mightiness person to hold until aft the adjacent Scottish Parliament predetermination earlier this vas enters service, which is simply a disgrace.

‘The hard-working unit astatine Ferguson Marine person been fto down by bosses, each paid immense sums of nationalist cash, yet islanders are inactive waiting connected their ferries.’

Labour transport spokesperson Claire Baker said ‘This is yet different atrocious section successful this fiasco and a hammer stroke to the land communities desperately awaiting caller ferries.

‘The SNP’s ferry chaos means radical connected the islands are being chopped disconnected from loved ones, missing healthcare appointments, and struggling to support businesses afloat.

‘Taxpayers are picking up a spiralling measure for SNP incompetence and our crumbling infrastructure is missing retired connected overmuch needed investment.

‘Scotland’s iconic shipbuilding manufacture is losing retired connected enactment due to the fact that of SNP chaos and the skilled workers astatine Ferguson’s gait are being forced to cleanable up a messiness they did not create.

‘The SNP has failed islanders, taxpayers and shipyard workers astatine each constituent successful this farce.

‘We person had a merry-go-round of authorities Ministers and shipyard turnaround directors, but determination has been a full vacuum successful leadership.

‘John Swinney indispensable measurement up and instrumentality work for delivering this ferry and securing aboriginal enactment for Ferguson’s yard.’

On April 2, Holyrood's transport committee wrote to Ferguson Marine brag David Dishon complaining astir the deficiency of an update for 'several months'.

Convener Edward Mountain said helium was 'frustrated' by the deficiency of a transportation timeline for the ferry which is owed to run connected the Arran way Mr Mountain told the gait to supply MSPs with a day and outgo by April 16 'given the important nationalist involvement successful this matter'.

But it has taken until present for the gait to admit that the ferry is facing further large delays.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: ‘I person communicated my disappointment and vexation to the committee of FMPG (Ferguson Marine) astatine the confirmation of a further hold and accrued estimated outgo to present the Glen Rosa.

‘Taxpayers, and the communities which beryllium connected the land ferries service, merit better.

‘I person instructed that a caller play reappraisal radical beryllium established, chaired by Ferguson Marine and comprising the gait and our autarkic method advisers, CMAL (Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd), to scrutinise the vessel's transportation program and guarantee it is realistic, businesslike and cost-effective.

‘This is present operating alongside existing task meetings which proceed to oversee cardinal milestones, outgo forecasts and operational performance.’