Clyde shipbuilder Ferguson Marine, under the ownership of the Scottish Government since falling into administration in 2019 and lamentably but not surprisingly all too often a political football, has been firmly in the spotlight in the last week.

The yard’s troubles with building two complex vessels for ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne and specifically the major cost overruns and delays on this work, awarded by Scottish Government owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), have meant Ferguson Marine has never been far from the headlines in recent years.

The first of these vessels, the MV Glen Sannox, is now finished and poised to enter service, with attention now focused on completion of the MV Glen Rosa.

For Ferguson Marine, the big question is over what happens next and there has been much food for thought on this front in the last week.

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Audit Scotland last Tuesday declared that “the future of the publicly owned Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow shipyard is uncertain, with no more work secured beyond the completion of MV Glen Rosa”.

It was encouraging to see Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes highlight the Scottish Government’s continuing efforts to help ensure the Port Glasgow shipyard’s long-term viability.

She said: “The Scottish Government is committed to helping Ferguson Marine reach a position where it can competitively bid for a range of projects and build a sustainable........

© Herald Scotland