WHEN MV Glen Rosa slides down the slipway at Ferguson's tomorrow one wonders as to what the thoughts of the great workforce there will be.
With no fresh orders and no investment from the Scottish Government, at least not yet, to make the shipyard more competitive, will it be jobs that are slipping away too?
Alba Party politician Chris McEleny has issued an unashamedly stark warning about the future of the yard — and he's right.
Without the direct award of seven small CalMac ferries — which is within the gift of our Government — and without the funding that is needed, it is nigh impossible to see any future for Ferguson's.
There may well be cheers for Glen Rosa, but they will be as hollow and empty as the yard's order book.
Mr McEleny is demanding real action, not more sound-bites, from the government and SNP politicians.
The workforce, Port Glasgow and all of Inverclyde — which has been absolutely battered on the jobs front — must have what is needed at this great shipyard.
As Mr McEleny says, Scotland's ferries should be built in Scotland's shipyards — and we say especially in one that is owned by the Scottish people.
We agree, it is high time our local parliamentarians got 'off the fence' and joined in demanding the small ferries contract and the investment for Ferguson Marine.
Time to stop dancing on the head of a rivet.
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