A FERGUSON Marine boss has said delivering the heavily delayed MV Glen Sannox is vital to getting rid of “negativity” and “urban myths” around the shipyard’s reputation.
Interim chief executive John Petticrew told The Scotsman that the yard “have got to get this first vessel [Glen Sannox] out so some of the negativity goes away with it.”
The vessel has been out on sea trials this week as the anticipated date for its handover to Scottish Government ferry procurement body CMAL draws ever closer.
Residents of Brodick on the Isle of Arran were treated to a first glimpse of the six-year-late ferry – due to serve the community in December – as she successfully berthed at Brodick Pier.
READ MORE: CalMac ferry MV Glen Sannox reaches major milestone
Petticrew has said bosses will hold a week-long exercise to discuss "lessons learned" from the construction after its delivery, while he hoped Ferguson Marine would be shortlisted for an upcoming bid for CalMac’s small electric ferries.
He hoped the yard would be in the running to oppose “urban myths as to where we sit”.
However, experts have previously expected it is unlikely to win the contact.
It is understood the yard is “very close” to beginning work on the type 26 frigate programme for the Royal Navy with BAE Systems.
Petticrew also shared that there is a “definitive plan” to complete Glen Rosa, the sister ship to the Glen Sannox, with additional shifts for workers to “push it along”.
Ferguson Marine chief financial officer David Dishon said: “We don’t want to win too much at this moment because as well as delivering Glen Rosa we are also doing an upgrade of the yard [with £14 million Scottish Government funding].”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel