Dear First Minister: Community leaders unite to call for new future for Ferguson's

Community leaders from across Inverclyde join GMB Scotland in signing open letter to first minister John Swinney calling for contract for new Lord of the Isles ferry to go directly to Ferguson Marine.

Dear First Minister

The Caledonian MacBrayne ferry MV Lord of the Isles (LOTI) was launched at the Ferguson's shipyard on 7 March 1989 but today, almost four decades later, a replacement is needed. It must also be built in Port Glasgow.

The direct award of the contract to replace one of Scotland’s most famous ferries will help secure the future of Ferguson Marine and allow it to rebuild after a bruising decade. Responsibility for the delayed delivery of the two ships most recently built there can be debated but the skilled and committed workforce is entirely blameless. Those workers only want to restore their yard’s former reputation for excellence and deserve that opportunity. 

Fergusons has built ships for more than a century - including a third of CalMac’s current fleet - and, until recently, its history was one of achievement. The Clyde’s last non-naval shipyard can, with support and sound management, achieve again.

It has been and remains a foundation stone of the Inverclyde economy, creating and sustaining high-quality jobs and apprenticeships for generations. The relentless criticism and speculation surrounding the yard’s future is corrosive, however, and that uncertainty could, and should, be dispelled by the direct award of this contract.

Foreign firms, their bids underpinned by low wages, will always beat UK yards on price alone but the social and economic value of Ferguson Marine to Inverclyde, its past achievements and, more crucially, future potential is incalculable. The thousands of well-wishers still gathering to celebrate the launch of every new ship built there only confirm the enduring civic pride in Ferguson’s and widespread support for it to be given the chance to rebuild and reclaim its respected place in Scotland’s industrial landscape.

The direct award of the contract to replace LOTI - most recently called for by the chief executives of both Ferguson Marine and Scottish Engineering - will bring stability and certainty to the yard while giving ministers time to consider how, in years to come, Scotland’s publicly-owned shipyard can better support our publicly-owned ferry company to deliver modern, reliable services to island communities and value for money for tax-payers. 

On behalf of the communities of Inverclyde, we urge the Scottish Government to award the contract to replace MV Lord of the Isles swiftly and directly to Ferguson Marine.

Signed by

Louise Gilmour, GMB Scotland secretary; Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland; Rev. William Boyle, Minister of Port Glasgow New Parish Church and shipyard chaplain; Graeme Brooks, Conservative Group Leader, Inverclyde Council; Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland; Chris Curley, SNP Group Leader, Inverclyde Council; Dr Lisa Curtice, St Mary's Episcopal Church, Port Glasgow; Charlene Elliot, chief executive of CVS Inverclyde; Bishop John Keenan, of the Diocese of Paisley; Stephen McCabe, Leader, Inverclyde Council; Drew McKenzie, Provost of Inverclyde; Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West; Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde; Gillian Murphy, Group Editor, The Greenock Telegraph; Anne Ross, Chair, Port Glasgow West Community Council.