THE launch of the Glen Rosa by Ferguson Marine is to be welcomed, regardless of it being some six years late.

Politicians have rushed to suggest further orders to occupy the fine workforce.

We must look beyond ferries (the Turks and the Poles have cornered the market in the large ones) and encompass the Naval Work happening in Scotland.

There are 7,000 jobs and 1,000 apprentices employed by BAE and Babcock building respectively Type 26 and Type 31 Frigates at Govan, Scotstoun and Rosyth.

To be a successful UK Naval Yard, outstanding ownership abilities, talented driven management and a skilled workforce are the three necessary ingredients.

Unfortunately Ferguson Marine only has the latter.

The SNP/CMAL owners have proved to be comprehensively inadequate in conducting and displaying leadership in the task chosen by them.

The dismissal of David Tydeman is in my opinion only part of the operational story. Rarely is one man solely responsible for the shambles and the whole senior management team must take responsibility. Delay after delay after delay has to indicate general corporate mismanagement.

The Scottish Government should now cut its losses and transfer what asset value there is at Ferguson Marine, lock stock and barrel to Babcock or BAE.

Allow them to source work, install reliable management and gainfully employ the workforce.

There can be a future for shipbuilding in Port Glasgow but the current owners must be realistic and acknowledge that it is time for them let the professionals takeover.

Councillor David Wilson

Conservative and Unionist Ward 1

Kilmacolm and Port Glasgow