A MAJOR jobs boost for Ferguson’s shipyard in Port Glasgow was announced today by Deputy First Minister John Swinney.

One hundred jobs are to be created and a further 125 safeguarded as a result of a £1m grant from Scottish Enterprise.

Mr Swinney said the Regional Selective Assistance grant would boost the number of full-time jobs at the site from 150 to 250.

He was visiting the yard, pictured, a year after a taskforce helped to find a buyer for the company and save it from administration.

The funding will help contribute to Ferguson Marine’s £12m refurbishment of the yard and the purchase of new equipment.

The last commercial shipbuilding company on the Clyde was bought last year by Clyde Blowers Capital, owned by billionaire Jim McColl.

It has an order book of £110m, including a £97m order for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) to build two dual fuel ferries, the largest commercial vessels to be built on the Clyde since 2001.

Mr Swinney said: “Commercial shipbuilding on the Clyde has a long history, and it is important that we continue to support this vital industry.

“This grant will enable the company to further invest in the site, which will create jobs and help ensure our shipbuilding industry continues to have a sustainable future.

“Since Clyde Blowers took over the company, they have done a fantastic job of turning it around, and I am delighted to visit their premises today to see just how much progress has been made.”

The grant was welcomed by Ferguson’s managing director, Liam Campbell, who said: “We greatly appreciate this contribution by Scottish Enterprise to support us in rebuilding our yard and, in doing so, creating new jobs and skills for the local area.”

Greenock-based SNP MSP, Stuart McMillan, described it as ‘tremendous news’.

He said: “It shows how the yard and shipbuilding is recognised positively by this Scottish Government.

“Today’s announcement of 100 more jobs, as well as a strong order book, shows that the yard and shipbuilding has a strong future in Inverclyde.

“I was part of the taskforce last summer which help secured the yard’s future. Those days were tense, as there was the real potential that the last shipyard on the Lower Clyde was to close forever.

“Many people had the belief that it could survive under the right conditions, and now that belief is being borne through.”

He added: “I was brought up in Port Glasgow, and my father worked in the yard before his passing.

“I am sure he would be delighted with the progress at the yard, and I am delighted to be seeing the rebirth of a long and prosperous shipbuilding future in the town.

“The ‘Clydebuilt’ name will once again become synonymous worldwide as Fergusons prosper.”
Today’s news was hailed as ‘a significant milestone’ by Paul Lewis, managing director of Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise International Operations.

He said: “We’ve been working with Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited since last September to help drive forward its plans of developing a successful, growing business with international ambition.

“We will continue to work with them as they realise their full growth potential.”