A FORMER Scottish Government minister yesterday fired a broadside at Peel Ports' stewardship of one of Greenock's premier maritime industrial assets - which he labelled 'critical' to reviving shipbuilding in Inverclyde.

Kenny MacAskill MP used a Westminster Hall Debate he had secured to focus on Inchgreen Dry Dock and the fact that Peel Ports bosses have leased it to a ship scrappage firm that has not won a single order since taking over last November.

He also called on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's government to explore the possibility of a 'compulsory purchase' of the dock to bring about what he sees as necessary change.

Mr MacAskill — who was Scotland's justice secretary for more than seven years — told his audience that Inchgreen was 'key' to making the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard a long-term success.

The Alba party politician says Peel has an 'unhealthy monopoly' which is 'damaging Scottish interests' and also questioned the company's commitment to the area when it also owns Cammell Laird shipyard on Merseyside.

Mr MacAskill said: "Firstly, as a consequence of harbour ownership Peel Ports are in charge of Inchgreen Dry Dock in Greenock. So what you might say?

"But that dock is potentially critical to reviving shipbuilding on the Clyde, as well as securing the future of the last remaining yard on the Lower Clyde at Ferguson's in Port Glasgow."

He added: "There are issues there with ownership and construction of ferries that I don't have time to go into today. The wrong ferries ordered, incompetence by the procurement agency CMAL and rush and failure by the Scottish Government.

"But what remains clear is that Scottish island communities have a desperate need for new vessels and Ferguson's is the yard to build them.

"When work is required and an industrial future sought, it's there — not Turkey — that orders should go.

"Moreover, the workforce have not just the history but the skills to build them. But in doing so and given the needs of island communities future expansion may well be needed and that's where Inch Green comes in."

Mr MacAskill criticised the controversial leasing of Inchgreen to fledging ship scrappage company Atlas Decommissioning by Peel.

Atlas has tried and failed to bring a succession of container ships to Greenock to be broken up after telling a public meeting that the first vessel would be in place before last Christmas.

Mr MacAskill said: "Rather than ensuring Inchgreen can be used for shipyard expansion, instead they've sought to lease it as a breakers yard.

"The skilled jobs are far fewer and the work less profitable. In any event even the breakers yard hasn't opened so far.

"Would it have anything to do with Peel Ports PLC also owning Cammell Laird Shipyard on the Mersey who compete with Fergusons for orders? I don't know but it certainly doesn't look right."

Mr MacAskill asked: "Where's the free market competition so extolled by this government when the interests of a Clyde shipyard, as with Clyde communities and the Scottish economy are drowned by those of the Mersey?"

The MP also pointed to possible solutions in terms of intervention by the Competition and Mergers Authority 'to ensure Scotland's interests are both protected and promoted'.

Mr MacAskill concluded: "If not then compulsory purchase or the creation of new ports should be pursued by the Scottish Government."