KATE Forbes has expressed confidence in Ferguson Marine amid concern over the shipyard's future.
The yard has been mired in controversy over the years-long delay to two ferries, and on Tuesday was passed over for the direct award of a £175 million ferry contract.
At the same time, it was announced that the yard would be getting £14.2m in funding to help it modernise.
After the announcement, speculation – later shot down by Forbes – emerged that the yard would be disqualified from bidding on the contract in the open market.
But, speaking at the Port Glasgow site on Thursday, Forbes was optimistic about the yard's future, saying: "I have confidence in the yard. The investment that we've made enables them to modernise.
"It will be spent on upgrading equipment so that we can reduce the price point at which they are competing for work on the open market.
"Bear in mind that there is work coming to the yard from BAE Systems as well, for complex units that one worker likened as 'half a ship' when I spoke to them."
Besides the two ferries undergoing work at the yard – Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa – Ferguson Marine is also assembling hull components for Royal Navy frigates currently being built by BAE in Govan.
The yard is currently bidding to take on more work for BAE, and Forbes noted that several local authorities are currently considering procuring ships.
John Petticrew, the yard's CEO, suggested on Thursday that an additional source of orders could come from the oil and gas industry, who he said are willing to pay a "premium" for work done in Scotland.
Forbes said that it is hoped that the funds will start being spent in the autumn.
She also said that she has faith in the yard management's decision-making, saying: "There is work [available]. But we need to ensure that they can secure future work. And it will be for yard management to decide what they bid for."
Forbes went on to disagree with claims reported in the press that Ferguson Marine would be barred from bidding on the new ferry contract.
According to one outlet, the yard would be ineligible to bid for the contract given that it had not delivered at least three ships of a similar size
She said: "As I read those documents, it says that [competitors] need to have delivered up to three vessels, and the Glen Sannox is far more complex than many of the small vessels that are currently being procured."
Forbes was also confident that the two ferries currently undergoing fitting-out at the yard would be delivered by their revised deadlines.
