FERGUSON Marine intend to bid for a contract to build seven more ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne – despite the Scottish Government snubbing calls for the yard to be awarded the work directly.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop revealed on Tuesday that the first stage of the competitive tender process for the Small Vessels Replacement Programme’s first phase had begun, with invitations to tender expected to be sent out in September.

A £175m price tag has been put on the work, which will involve constructing seven all-electric ferries to serve the Clyde and Hebrides Network.

The procurement process is being led by CMAL, the government-owned company that procures ships for ferry firm CalMac, and is expected to take around eight months.

Ferguson Marine has today confirmed that it plans to participate in the competitive tender process in a bid to fill its order books.

Securing the contract would help ensure that more work comes into the yard after the overdue and overbudget Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox are completed.

Earlier this year the yard’s interim CEO John Petticrew told the Telegraph that he would welcome a direct award of the contract, however he recognised there were ‘significant legal barriers’ to overcome.

A number of local and national politicians had called for the troubled yard to be directly awarded the contract, but the commencement of the procurement process means Ferguson Marine will now have to successfully bid for the order to secure the work.

In a statement issued on Tuesday Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said a direct award of the work to Ferguson’s ‘introduces substantial risks and uncertainties for the shipyard and the communities which rely on the lifeline vessels’.

It was also revealed this week that the yard is set to receive up to £14.2m of investment from the Scottish Government over the next two years, subject to plans passing legal analysis and independent assessments this autumn.

A Ferguson Marine spokesperson confirmed today that work was already underway to draw up a ‘comprehensive project plan’ which will outline how the money is to be spent.

A Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) spokesperson said: “We do plan to submit a bid.

“Meanwhile we will continue our determined efforts to secure further commercial work for the yard. 

“Now that the additional investment has been confirmed, over the coming weeks the Ferguson Marine board and senior team will be refining and finalising a comprehensive project plan for how and when this funding will be allocated. 

“This plan will also be discussed and agreed with Scottish Government. 

“We will update on our progress in due course.”