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.
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].”
