Alba Party's Ferguson's warning ahead of Glen Rosa launch

MV Glen Rosa, the second of the two overdue vessels being built for CalMac at the Port Glasgow yard, is set to be launched this week during a celebratory public ceremony.

However, a senior Alba Party politician has suggested that the occasion should not be cause for optimism - unless a commitment of future investment in the site is secured from the Scottish Government.

Chris McEleny (Image: NQ)

Chris McEleny, the party's general secretary, said: "I say without fear or apology that when it comes to Scotland, Scotland’s ferries should be built in Scotland’s shipyards.

"But time is now running out. If SNP politicians and the Scottish Government agree with me then they need to get off the fence.

"They simply cannot keep Ferguson’s open any longer with soundbites. There is no steel left to cut. There are no orders in the pipeline. There simply is not the work left to sustain a shipyard. The Glen Sannox is now out on trials. The Glen Rosa is now being launched.

READ MORE: Ferguson Marine invites Inverclyde community to yard for launch of Glen Rosa

“Launches are supposed to be joyous moments but this launch will be happening against the backdrop that unless the Scottish Government intervene with investment in the yard and guarantees that it will directly award new work to it then this will be the last vessel ever launched in the lower Clyde - bringing to an end centuries of proud shipbuilding tradition in Inverclyde. That would be a tragedy."

A naming ceremony will mark the event on Tuesday along with a celebratory bottle smash on the vessel and a blessing of the ship by local minister, Rev William Boyle, of Port Glasgow New Parish Church, while several dignitaries are also expected to attend the launch.

Glen Rosa (Image: George Munro)

Mr McEleny is hoping more will follow at Ferguson's but fears that will not be the case unless action is taken urgently to back the shipyard.

The former Inverclyde councillor added: "If the Scottish Government does not directly award work to Ferguson’s, as opposed to sending more contracts overseas, the yard will close.

"That’ll be a devastating blow to the industrial capacity of the Clyde and as a result, our commercial shipbuilding that was destroyed by the Tories will finally come to an end on the SNP’s watch. That is simply not acceptable.

"If the Scottish Government do not make the decision to directly award the small vessels that are due to be put out to tender by CMAL directly to Ferguson’s then they should be under no illusion that it will be the political choice of the Scottish Government to see the gates of Ferguson’s shipyard closed for good.

"I’m not willing to accept that, and I know the workers at the yard won’t either.”