The Ferguson Marine shipyard at Port Glasgow was in the headlines again last week – and it was thankfully good news this time.

The yard has not had its troubles to seek in recent years, with attention focused on cost overruns and delays on the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferries being built for Caledonian MacBrayne.

So it was heartening to learn the yard, which provides such crucial employment in Inverclyde, had won a significant contract.

Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd last week announced that it had signed a contract with BAE Systems to fabricate three structural components for “Ship 4 HMS Birmingham”, the fourth frigate being built as part of the Type 26 programme.

Graeme Thomson, the recently appointed chief executive of Ferguson Marine, made some important points around the award of the work.

In particular, he declared it “proves the ability of our skilled workforce to secure new business”.

This is indeed an important aspect of this contract for Ferguson Marine.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, when I interviewed her last month, highlighted the importance of restoring confidence in Ferguson Marine for it to “succeed and survive”, declaring then that the latest delays in delivering the Glen Rosa ferry “don’t help with the public........

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