INVERCLYDE Council leader Stephen McCabe has urged the Scottish Government to step in and secure valuable local jobs at Ferguson Marine.
Councillor McCabe has written to Cabinet Secretary Mairi McAllan following the launch of ferry MV Glen Rosa at the Port Glasgow shipyard last week.
He welcomed her attendance at the launch and urged her to promote Ferguson as a partner with Caledonian Maritime Assests Ltd (CMAL) to develop and build a new fleet of small ferries.
He recognised the challenges faced by the Scottish Government and agencies around the history of the current contract but said it’s “time to move beyond that to secure the future of the yard”.
In his letter, McMcCabe says: “The council considers Ferguson Marine to be a major employer in Inverclyde and an integral component of our area’s marine sector –- a sector identified as one with strong potential for growth and development that could be one of the keys to the economic recovery of Inverclyde.
“We urge you to intervene and promote a process for procurement that identifies Ferguson Marine as a partner with CMAL in the development and build of the new fleet of small ferries.
“In addition to capitalising on local expertise, Ferguson Marine have experience of delivering, on time and on budget, similar classes of vessels.
“The community benefits of this partnership approach, which cannot be calculated through a bidding procurement process, would be the retention of existing skills and jobs; the development of new skills, jobs and apprenticeships; and longer-term security for the local workforce and the wider supply chain.”
Mr McCabe also highlighted the number of jobs which have left Inverclyde in recent months, and urged Ms McAllan to intervene to stop another major employer from leaving.
