Scotland Bets on Tugboats to Save Ferguson Shipyard from Collapse
The Scottish government approves speculative tugboat construction to prevent 70 layoffs at the troubled Clyde shipyard.
The Scottish government has approved a stopgap plan to keep Ferguson Marine afloat, preventing up to 70 layoffs as the yard faces an uncertain transition after delivering its final commercial vessel.
The announcement, made by Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn in Parliament on September September 17, outlines a plan to construct an unspecified number of tugboats using a prepackaged design.
Its struggles have been exacerbated by the disastrous Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa ferry projects for state-owned operator CalMac. The Glen Rosa, originally due a decade ago, is now preparing for delivery before the end of 2026, while the Glen Sannox, already in service, has faced persistent issues, including a reported gas leak that forced it to revert to conventional fuel.
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The tugboat plan has drawn immediate criticism from opposition parties, who argue it lacks transparency and follows a pattern of failed interventions. March, the government announced four no-bid contracts for Ferguson Marine: two small ferries for CalMac, a Marine Protection Vessel (MPV), and a Marine Research Vessel (MRV). However, these contracts remain delayed due to subsidy regulation reviews, leaving the yard in limbo.
The delays have already prompted voluntary layoffs, with management seeking up to 70 employees to leave in August, roughly a quarter of the workforce. If the contracts are finalised, they would still require over a year of design work before construction could begin, offering little immediate relief.
Ferguson Marine’s most recent success came in July, when it delivered three structural units for the Royal Navy’s HMS Birmingham, the fourth ship in the Type 26 frigate programme led by BAE Systems. The yard, alongside Malin Abram and Coastworks, secured the subcontract as part of a broader effort to sustain UK shipbuilding capacity. However, this work provides only temporary respite, with no further commercial projects on the horizon.
Can Tugboats Keep the Clyde’s Legacy Alive?
The speculative tugboat plan underscores the broader challenges facing Ferguson Marine. The yard’s limited size restricts its ability to compete for large-scale contracts, including CalMac’s ferry replacements.
For now, the yard’s survival hinges on whether the tugboats find buyers, and whether the delayed no-bid contracts materialise. With the Glen Rosa set to leave the yard by year’s end, Ferguson Marine’s future remains precarious.
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