FERRY operator Caledonian MacBrayne has said it will do everything it can to help support a rescue of Ferguson's, the last commercial shipbuilder on the Clyde.
The backing came as discussions continued over the weekend between administrators and parties interested in saving the Ferguson yard.
It was founded in 1902 but collapsed into administration on August 15, with the loss of 70 jobs.
An announcement concerning the future of the firm is expected to be made as early as today, with engineering tycoon Jim McColl widely tipped as the favourite to be named as the preferred bidder.
Four potential buyers had lodged an interest by the deadline of Thursday at 5pm. However, Rangers directors James and Sandy Easdale, owners of McGill's Buses, later said they would step aside to allow Mr McColl to potentially take over the firm.
Mr McColl, who has a personal fortune of around £1 billion, founded the firm Clyde Blowers and bought Weir Pumps.
The shipbuilder recently built two ferries for state-owned ferry operator CalMac in a £22 million contract. Last Tuesday, Finance Secretary John Swinney said he believed there was a viable future for shipbuilding on the Clyde, with up to 12 CalMac vessels due to be replaced at a cost of up to £250m, and regular repair and maintenance required.
A spokesman for CalMac said: "As a major employer in the Inverclyde region and acquirer of maritime services in Scotland we will, of course, support any rescue of Ferguson's.
"As you would expect, David MacBrayne Ltd [the parent company of CalMac] is constantly looking at opportunities to grow its capability and capacity in the maritime sector, and would be interested in working with other organisations to do this."
However, it is understood one limiting factor is that repairs for CalMac vessels sometimes require a dry dock, which is not available at the Ferguson yard.
Yesterday, Mr McColl could not be reached for comment. But on Friday, a spokesman for the Easdale brothers said they were delighted someone with his engineering background was keen to take over the yard.
The spokesman said: "Sandy spoke to Jim at length … and his plans for hundreds of jobs and millions of pounds in investment are exactly what Inverclyde needs.
"We said all along that we would step aside if somebody with an engineering pedigree and access to markets wanted to get involved.
"Our only interest has been to save the yard and as many jobs as possible.
"As local businessmen the Easdales have a strong interest in seeing a thriving Inverclyde economy."
First Minister Alex Salmond, who visited the yard on Friday, yesterday said the Scottish Government would do everything it could to help save the shipyard and secure jobs.
In a statement on Friday, Blair Nimmo, joint administrator and head of restructuring for KPMG in Scotland, said: "The level of interest and support shown for the future of Ferguson Shipbuilders provides us with the confidence that a sale could be achieved which will hopefully lead to work restarting in Port Glasgow in the short term."
Yesterday, Mr Nimmo did not respond to a request for further comment.
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