FERGUSON Marine
Engineering, the Clyde shipbuilder owned by funds run by Jim McColl’s Clyde Blowers Capital, has won a contract to build an air-cushioned barge.
The Port Glasgow-based yard, at the centre of a row in recent weeks over a secret £15 million loan from the Scottish Government, has secured the work from Mangistau ACV Solutions. Mangistau is part of the CMI Offshore Group, an Athens-based marine services and logistics specialist.
Ferguson, which Clyde Blowers’ funds acquired out of administration in 2014, said the 55 x 24 metres barge will be the world’s first self-propelled air-cushion barge. It will be capable of carrying a payload of up to 150 tonnes over tundra, swamps, ice and water.
Gerry Marshall, chief executive of Ferguson Marine Engineering, said: “This exciting project win is further evidence our current diversification strategy is already beginning to have a hugely
positive impact on the business. Undoubtedly, these types of contracts are essential in helping secure the long-term future of the yard.”
Work on the barge is due to be completed next year.
The contract comes after the Scottish Government was criticised by Audit Scotland last month over a loan it gave to Ferguson last year, after the yard had hit cash
flow difficulties. The shipbuilder, which employs around 370, was running behind schedule in its delivery of two CalMac ferries. It emerged Finance Secretary Derek Mackay did not tell Holyrood’s finance committee about the loan until April, before ministers granted Ferguson a further loan
of £30m.
Audit General Caroline Gardner said improvements were needed to aid transparency.
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