FERGUSON’S of Port Glasgow could be in the frame for a share of a £1.25 billion UK Government shipbuilding contract.

Ministers are planning for five new Navy frigates by 2023 and Inverclyde’s MP says that Ferguson’s could land a deal.

The defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon yesterday unveiled a fresh national shipbuilding strategy intended to benefit yards across the UK, by spreading construction work across the country.

The government plans to have at least five new frigates, capped at £250m each, which would be ready to enter service in six years.

The new vessels would be built at yards across the UK but assembled at a central site.

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan says he lobbied for the Port yard to be included in the new construction strategy.

Mr Cowan said: “I’m delighted to see Ferguson Marine is in the mix and were included in the Ministry of Defence lock-in event on Tuesday evening.

“I spoke to Minister for Defence Procurement, Harriet Baldwin MP, to discuss what impact that strategy may have on Inverclyde.

“I utilised the opportunity of speaking to the minister to promote Ferguson Marine.”

Mr Cowan also hopes his approach could open the door for future government work for the reborn Port yard.

He added: “Hopefully, in the long term, Ferguson Marine will benefit from MoD contracts.”

Bidding for the contracts is to begin next year, with construction due to start in 2019.

Sir Michael told a national radio programme: “Govan can compete for that, so can Ferguson’s further down the Clyde, they could be built at Rosyth.

“Any of the yards in Britain will be free to compete.”