FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon will visit Ferguson’s in Port Glasgow tomorrow to cut the first steel on the shipyard’s first order since being rescued earlier this year.

The yard is building a £12 million eco-friendly hybrid power vessel for Caledonian MacBrayne — but moves are also afoot to put it on a stronger footing to win foreign work too.

Inverclyde MP Iain McKenzie today revealed he has held talks with the company about a financial scheme that could help them get orders from abroad.

Mr McKenzie said: “Ferguson’s have received one order from the Scottish Government for CalMac, and this will again display their excellence in this market.

“However, if they are to secure a regular flow of construction projects, there is a need for even greater support.

“The UK Government have a scheme where they support British businesses through the use of bonds.

“These are essentially monies supplied through the banks to enable British manufacturers to compete in the international market and secure contracts.

”This means the UK Government covers 80 per cent of the project, so, if there is a problem with construction or delivery, the customer is still guaranteed an 80 per cent return.

“This is used by other countries around Europe to assist their businesses in securing contracts.” The MP says he is determined that Ferguson’s should grow and prosper, and he believes ‘bonding’ would be of great benefit to the wider Inverclyde area in terms of becoming part of the supply chain to Ferguson’s.

He added: “That’s why my colleague, Duncan McNeil MSP, and I have been discussing with Ferguson’s the opportunities that bonding securities from the UK Government would bring to them.

“I have asked for a meeting with the Secretary of State for Scotland to discuss how the UK Government might engage with Ferguson’s to hopefully secure such bonding, and allow them to fill their order books and have a constant flow of manufacturing projects.

“The North Sea is becoming particularly busy, and Europe will be placing a further green tax on shipping in this area, meaning demand for green, low-polluting shipping will be essential for countries around Europe.

“Ferguson’s has the expertise, and now needs the opportunity to meet the demand for the supply of high quality, energy efficient and clean ferries.”