Scots ferry fiasco yard sets its sights on building warships for the Bangladesh navy

[Black_cats]

Scots ferry fiasco yard sets its sights on building warships for the Bangladesh navy​

Ferguson Marine, the shipbuilding company which has struggled to deliver two CalMac ferries in recent years, is in a bid to build warships for the Bangladesh navy out of its yard in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.
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• BY JOHN FERGUSON
• 04:30, 17 APR 2022UPDATED04:32, 17 APR 2022
  https://inyourarea.co.uk/

A worker is seen on top of the Glen Sannox Caledonian Macbrayne ferry in the Ferguson Marine shipyard on April 1, 2022 in Port Glasgow(Image: 2022 Getty Images)

Scottish Government-owned Ferguson Marine is in negotiations to build warships for the Bangladesh navy, the Sunday Mail has learned.

The troubled yard in Port Glasgow has struggled to deliver two CalMac ferries which are four years overdue and two-and-a-half times over budget at £240million.

But now we can reveal how the Inverclyde site, which was nationalised in 2019, has held preliminary talks with a number of prospective international clients for future work – including for military ships.

When asked about the Bangladesh vessels, a spokeswoman said: “We are involved in discussions with multiple potential customers, both domestic and international, for contracts covering a range of vessel types including ferries, offshore patrol vessels and offshore wind farm service vessels.

“We are actively pursuing the next vessel order but all discussions are commercially sensitive.

“Details of any secured contract will be announced when the time is right.”

A scathing report from Audit Scotland has slammed ministers over the absence of contractual safeguards at Ferguson Marine to protect public money.

BNS Bangabandhu Frigate of the Bangladesh Navy is docked at Hamad Port during the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference last month(Image: Photo by KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)

Several River Class offshore patrol vessels have been built in Scotland for the Royal Navy in recent years by BAE.

Bangladesh – one of the world’s poorest countries – revealed in November plans to purchase five ships from the UK as part of a military modernisation program.

The decision is understood to have been reached at a meeting at the Cop26 summit in Glasgow between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

But the UK Government has not said where ships could potentially be built, and any deal is understood to be “in principle” at the moment.

If Ferguson Marine was in the running for the work it could mean a company owned by the Scottish Government bidding for a contract from the UK Government.

Alternatively, if the Scottish Government or Ferguson Marine was attempting to negotiate directly with Bangladesh, it could lead to a dispute between Holyrood and Westminster.

Labour MSP Paul Sweeney said: “It would be great if Ferguson Marine won this work but that is far from certain.

“Even if it did it wouldn’t solve the long term challenges for shipbuilding in Scotland.

“The company needs to build from a base of delivering the two CalMac ferries, which it has failed to do so far.

“The Scottish and UK Governments should be coming up with a joined-up national plan for shipbuilding that utilised all of the assets we have across the county but we are not getting that at the moment.”

The Ferguson Marine shipyard on April 1, 2022 in Port Glasgow(Image: 2022 Getty Images)

Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has said he wants to acquire additional ships to improve monitoring and protection of its maritime territory.

He did not disclose specific details about the type of ships his country would be purchasing.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted the Scottish Government will “learn lessons” from the delays and overspends at Ferguson Marine.

Audit Scotland has said the cost of the two delayed ferries could run to two-and-a-half times the original £97million price tag.

The original agreement was made without a refund guarantee that would protect public money – and the report said there was no paper trail explaining why the contract was signed off without the clause in place.

The Scottish Government-owned ferry procurer, Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (Cmal), also raised concerns over the lack of guarantee.

Ferry fiasco yard sets its sights on building warships for the Bangladesh navy

Ferguson Marine, the shipbuilding company which has struggled to deliver two CalMac ferries in recent years, is in a bid to build warships for the Bangladesh navy out of its yard in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk

 

[Destranator]

Scots public-owned shipyard in talks to build warships for Bangladesh Navy

Ferguson Marine, who are owned by the Scottish Government, had held early talks for future shipbuilding contracts, the Sunday Mail reports.

The shipyard, which was nationalised in 2019, is reportedly negotiating possible contracts for military ships.

A spokesperson for the shipyard told the paper: “We are involved in discussions with multiple potential customers, both domestic and international, for contracts covering a range of vessel types including ferries, offshore patrol vessels and offshore wind farm service vessels.

“We are actively pursuing the next vessel order but all discussions are commercially sensitive.

“Details of any secured contract will be announced when the time is right.”

A PUBLIC-OWNED Scots shipyard is in talks to build warships for the Bangladesh navy.

Ferguson Marine, who are owned by the Scottish Government, had held early talks for future shipbuilding contracts, the Sunday Mail reports.

The shipyard is reportedly in talks to build new warships
The shipyard is reportedly in talks to build new warshipsCredit: Getty
Ferguson Marine is at the centre of an ongoing scandal over the cost of two ferries which have not been completed
Ferguson Marine is at the centre of an ongoing scandal over the cost of two ferries which have not been completedCredit: Getty
The shipyard, which was nationalised in 2019, is reportedly negotiating possible contracts for military ships.

A spokesperson for the shipyard told the paper: “We are involved in discussions with multiple potential customers, both domestic and international, for contracts covering a range of vessel types including ferries, offshore patrol vessels and offshore wind farm service vessels.

“We are actively pursuing the next vessel order but all discussions are commercially sensitive.

“Details of any secured contract will be announced when the time is right.”

The shipyard has been the centre of a scandal involving the construction of two ferries.

The long-running saga saw the ailing Port Glasgow shipyard nationalised and costs to the taxpayer for two new CalMac ferries soaring from to at least £240million.

No vessels have been delivered, nearly seven years later.

And Audit Scotland criticised a “multitude of failings” in the delivery of Glen Sannox and Hull 802 with the contract awarded without the normal financial safeguards.
Audit Scotland blasted problems at Ferguson Marine.

It said there was a lack of transparent decision-making, project oversight or a "clear understanding of what significant sums of public money have achieved".
Last month, SNP cabinet chief Keith Brown was dragged into the ongoing saga - as documents suggesting he gave the nod to the doomed shipyard deal.

The Justice Secretary came under the spotlight the day after Nicola Sturgeon appeared to blame disgraced ex minister Derek Mackay for the fiasco.

Papers obtained by The Scottish Sun reveal Mr Brown - who was Infrastructure Secretary in 2015 - was asked to sign off on the £96 million deal in August that year, as then Transport Minister Mr Mackay was absent.

There is nothing to suggest that Mr Brown did not sign off on the Ferguson shipyard as it was confirmed as the preferred bidder just days later.

Scots public-owned shipyard in talks to build warships for Bangladesh Navy

A PUBLIC-OWNED Scots shipyard is in talks to build warships for the Bangladesh navy. Ferguson Marine, which is owned by the Scottish Government, has held talks for future shipbuilding contracts. Th…

www.thescottishsun.co.uk

 

[Muhammad Saftain Anjum]

If I am not wrong,there was news of collaboration with Turkey to build indeginous warships for BN.

What happened to that program?

 

[Destranator]

If I am not wrong,there was news of collaboration with Turkey to build indeginous warships for BN.

What happened to that program?

Frigate program is still up in the air with many contenders including Turkey.
This one is for OPV's.

 

[Tom-tom]

Britain I good doing magic number contracts and then over contract price going way over budget.

 

[bluesky]

Scots public-owned shipyard in talks to build warships for Bangladesh Navy

Ferguson Marine, who are owned by the Scottish Government, had held early talks for future shipbuilding contracts, the Sunday Mail reports.

The shipyard, which was nationalised in 2019, is reportedly negotiating possible contracts for military ships.

A spokesperson for the shipyard told the paper: “We are involved in discussions with multiple potential customers, both domestic and international, for contracts covering a range of vessel types including ferries, offshore patrol vessels and offshore wind farm service vessels.

“We are actively pursuing the next vessel order but all discussions are commercially sensitive.

“Details of any secured contract will be announced when the time is right.”

A PUBLIC-OWNED Scots shipyard is in talks to build warships for the Bangladesh navy.

Ferguson Marine, who are owned by the Scottish Government, had held early talks for future shipbuilding contracts, the Sunday Mail reports.

The shipyard is reportedly in talks to build new warships
The shipyard is reportedly in talks to build new warshipsCredit: Getty
Ferguson Marine is at the centre of an ongoing scandal over the cost of two ferries which have not been completed
Ferguson Marine is at the centre of an ongoing scandal over the cost of two ferries which have not been completedCredit: Getty
The shipyard, which was nationalised in 2019, is reportedly negotiating possible contracts for military ships.

A spokesperson for the shipyard told the paper: “We are involved in discussions with multiple potential customers, both domestic and international, for contracts covering a range of vessel types including ferries, offshore patrol vessels and offshore wind farm service vessels.

“We are actively pursuing the next vessel order but all discussions are commercially sensitive.

“Details of any secured contract will be announced when the time is right.”

The shipyard has been the centre of a scandal involving the construction of two ferries.

The long-running saga saw the ailing Port Glasgow shipyard nationalised and costs to the taxpayer for two new CalMac ferries soaring from to at least £240million.

No vessels have been delivered, nearly seven years later.

And Audit Scotland criticised a “multitude of failings” in the delivery of Glen Sannox and Hull 802 with the contract awarded without the normal financial safeguards.
Audit Scotland blasted problems at Ferguson Marine.

It said there was a lack of transparent decision-making, project oversight or a "clear understanding of what significant sums of public money have achieved".
Last month, SNP cabinet chief Keith Brown was dragged into the ongoing saga - as documents suggesting he gave the nod to the doomed shipyard deal.

The Justice Secretary came under the spotlight the day after Nicola Sturgeon appeared to blame disgraced ex minister Derek Mackay for the fiasco.

Papers obtained by The Scottish Sun reveal Mr Brown - who was Infrastructure Secretary in 2015 - was asked to sign off on the £96 million deal in August that year, as then Transport Minister Mr Mackay was absent.

There is nothing to suggest that Mr Brown did not sign off on the Ferguson shipyard as it was confirmed as the preferred bidder just days later.

Scots public-owned shipyard in talks to build warships for Bangladesh Navy

A PUBLIC-OWNED Scots shipyard is in talks to build warships for the Bangladesh navy. Ferguson Marine, which is owned by the Scottish Government, has held talks for future shipbuilding contracts. Th…

www.thescottishsun.co.uk

What warships this news talking about? As far as I understand BD will buy five old frigates from the Royal Navy and they will be revamped and refurbished at some shipyard.

But, this news talking something like new ships. I am perplexed.

 

[Destranator]

What warships this news talking about? As far as I understand BD will buy five old frigates from the Royal Navy and they will be revamped and refurbished at some shipyard.

But, this news talking something like new ships. I am perplexed.

See post #3.
There is no plan to buy "five old frigates" from anywhere.