New boss appointed for Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow

A new boss is being appointed to lead the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow days after it lost out to a Polish rival in the bidding for seven ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne.

Babcock executive Graeme Thomson will take on the role of chief executive at the state-owned yard from May 1, following the departure of interim head John Petticrew for "personal reasons" earlier this month.

Mr Thomson was was previously in charge of delivering the Type 31 frigate programme for the Royal Navy at Rosyth.

READ MORE: New blow for Ferguson as ferry order goes to Poland

Mission to repair reputation

In a statement, Mr Thomson said: "I'm thoroughly excited and enthused to be taking on the role as chief executive officer of Ferguson Marine, a cornerstone of Scotland's rich maritime history and an important employer in Inverclyde.

"The business, and its people, have faced challenging times but as we look forward we must focus on delivering key contracts that demonstrate our capability to exceed expectations and build world-class ships on the Clyde.

"This, and our commitment to build a better culture based on accountability and robust governance, will enable us to put past issues behind us, restore the reputation of Ferguson Marine and realise its potential as a leader in global shipbuilding.

"I'm looking forward to getting to know the team better and working together to modernise the yard, and get it fit for the future so we can face up to the demands of the shipbuilding market for years to come."

Search for new contracts

Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (Cmal) named Polish shipyard Remontowa as the preferred bidder for the small vessel replacement programme (SVRP) on Monday, with the ferries being built to serve shorter routes such as those on the Isle of Bute, Mull, Loch Fyne, Raasay and Gigha.

Calls had been made for a direct award of the contract - quoted as being worth £175 million when it was announced - to Ferguson, but ministers said such a move could end up in the courts.

Three further vessels are planned for a second phase of procurement later this year.

Andrew Miller, chairman of the board at Ferguson Marine, said: "We are delighted to welcome Graeme Thomson as our new CEO.

"Graeme is a trusted and experienced leader with a sharp and intelligent business focus.

"He brings to the role a diverse background of experiences and an excellent track record for delivery in the shipbuilding and construction industry.

"He joins us at a crucial time for our business and the board believes he will be instrumental in achieving the goals set out in our strategy and, crucially, will deliver long-term growth for Ferguson Marine."

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes - who has responsibility for the yard in her economy brief - congratulated Mr Thomson on his appointment.

"Mr Thomson brings over 20 years of international leadership experience in shipbuilding, energy and defence sectors," she said.

"That expertise will be key as he leads the work to deliver the board's new commercial strategy, secure the yard's long-term future, and ensure the Glen Rosa is delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible.

"The Scottish Government is fully committed to Ferguson Marine and the future of Scotland's shipbuilding industry. I look forward to working closely with Mr Thomson as he leads the next phase of the yard's development."

Arran ferry saga

The Glen Rosa and its sister ship the Glen Sannox - which entered service earlier this year - were ordered by Scottish Government-owned ferry procurement arm Cmal and were due to enter service in 2018 at a cost of £97 million - though the figure could be as high as £400 million following completion.

But a slew of issues in the building, including the yard being rescued from administration by ministers in 2019 when a multitude of problems were exposed, led to significant delays.

The Glen Rosa is due to be handed over to ferry operator CalMac - also owned by the Government - in September, but Mr Petticrew was unable to say if this target will be met when he appeared before a Holyrood committee earlier this year.

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