Ferry Fiasco (Scotland): Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

Tag: Reverted

Tag: Reverted

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The '''Ferry Fiasco''' is a name given to a controversy relating to the delays and increasing costs of two ferries under construction, {{MV|Glen Sannox|2017|6}} and {{MV|Glen Rosa}}, in Scotland. The ferries are being built by [[Ferguson Marine]] Ltd, for the state-owned ferry operator [[Caledonian MacBrayne]] under direction of [[Caledonian Maritime Assets]] Ltd (CMAL), [[Transport Scotland]], and the [[Scottish Government]]. Originally intended to come into service in 2018 and 2019 respectively, both ferries have been delayed by over five years, and costs have more than trebled to £360 million.<ref name="September 2023 delay">{{cite news |title=Further delay and up to £24m in 'understated' costs to late CalMac ferries |url=https://news.stv.tv/scotland/delayed-calmac-ferries-pushed-back-another-year-over-understated-costs |agency=STV News |date=29 September 2023}}</ref>

The contract required the ships to have [[Marine LNG Engine|dual fuel engines]], to use both [[Fuel oil#marine gas oil|marine gas oil]] diesel fuel, and [[liquefied natural gas]] which was already in use for ferries in northern Europe, such as the Chinese built [[Samsø ferry]], to meet tightened emissions regulation.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="CMAL 20150831 Ferry deal">{{cite web | title=Ferry deal set to create new jobs | website=CMAL Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd | date=31 August 2015 | url=https://www.cmassets.co.uk/ferry-deal-set-to-create-new-jobs/ | access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref> Ferguson Marine director [[Jim McColl]] later said the ferries were UK "prototypes", and that delays had been incurred in getting certification for Ferguson's design from [[Lloyd's Register]] and the [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]].<ref name="Black 2018">{{cite web | last=Black | first=Andrew | title=Shipyard owner frustrated at ferry delay | website=BBC News | date=29 August 2018 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-45339585 | access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref>

The main contractor, Ferguson Marine, was nationalised by the Scottish Government in December 2019 with debts of £70 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ferguson's went bust with debts of more than £70 million - with £50m owed to taxpayers |url=https://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/news/17926462.fergusons-went-bust-debts-70-million---50m-owed-taxpayers/ |publisher=Greenock Telegraph |date=27 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=SNP ministers nationalise Clyde shipyard |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17841805.snp-ministers-nationalise-clyde-shipyard/ |agency=The Herald |date=16 August 2016}}</ref> It is now classified as an [[executive non-departmental public body]] of the [[Scottish Government]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-public-bodies-directory/pages/executive-non-departmental-public-bodies/|title=National public bodies directory - Executive non-departmental public bodies|access-date=25 August 2022|publisher=Scottish Government|date=26 July 2022}}</ref>