ONE of Scotland’s richest men, Jim McColl, has unveiled ambitious plans to grow the Ferguson Marine shipbuilding business which he hopes could result in the firm creating more than 1,000 jobs by 2020.
The entrepreneur plans to expand the operation on the Clyde into new markets such as refitting the kind of superyachts loved by the rich and famous.
Russian billionaire and Chelsea football club owner Roman Abramovich’s luxury yacht, which has room for two helicopter pads and two swimming pools, was spotted recently on the Clyde off Greenock.
Mr McColl believes Port Glasgow-based Ferguson Marine could appeal to people who are being driven to buy boats from overseas because the kind of vessels they want are not being made in the UK.
He plans to invest £65 million upgrading the Ferguson yard to meet expected demand.
The plans could result in Ferguson increasing employee numbers around ten-fold, to 1,300 by 2020, from 140 currently.
After developing a series of successful engineering businesses through his Clyde Blowers Capital operation, Mr McColl acquired the former Ferguson Shipbuilders business out of administration last year.
The yard is building a ferry for Caledonian MacBrayne. It is bidding to build two large ferries that will be used to serve routes to the Hebrides.
Mr McColl bought the yard in September last year and re-employed all the 70 or so workers made redundant when the ferry maker went into administration.
He said then the yard could win work from the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors.
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