The Scottish Government has officially announced its intention to award Ferguson Marine a direct contract to build four new vessels.
This critical decision provides the Port Glasgow shipyard with a guaranteed five year pipeline of work, securing its operational future and regional shipbuilding capacity.
The proposed contract package covers the design and construction of four key vessels for Scottish maritime operations:
- Marine Scotland Fleet: A new Marine Protection Vessel (MPV) and a Marine Research Vessel (MRV) will replace the aging MPV Minna and MRV Scotia. Both original ships were built by Ferguson Marine and are currently nearing the end of their service lives.
- CalMac Passenger Ferries: Two new passenger ferries will be built for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) as part of the second phase of the Scottish Government’s Small Vessel Replacement Program.
The Port Glasgow shipyard has been in continuous operation for over a century and remains a strategic national asset. It has been wholly owned by the Scottish Government since its nationalization in 2019.
Before shifting full resources to the newly awarded projects, Ferguson Marine remains focused on its immediate operational pipeline, which includes:
- Completing the MV Glen Rosa ferry
- Ongoing collaboration with BAE Systems on the Type 26 frigate program
- Delivering an internal transformation project designed to modernize the shipyard’s infrastructure