A DEAL has been struck to avoid a 'world-first' hoverbarge being scrapped at Ferguson Marine - but it will leave the Port Glasgow yard incomplete.

The Telegraph revealed a fortnight ago how the yard was at risk of losing the work because the vessel is currently unfinished and over six months late.

The order was placed by CMI Offshore, which has an office in Scarlow House in the Port town centre, in October 2018 under the previous owners of Ferguson's.

It was due to be launched in July or August last year - around the same time the yard went into administration before being nationalised by the Scottish Government.

But the hull has lain on the slipway unfinished ever since with no revised completion date in sight, prompting fears it would have to be scrapped.

A deal has now been struck between the customer and the government that will allow for the vessel to be built to a standard that would allow it to be launched and then handed over to the company to complete the rest of the work, such as installation of equipment, propulsion systems and carry out sea trials.

A CMI Offshore spokesperson said: "We have an agreement that it's not going to be scrapped and the vessel should be launched in the next few months. "There will be no necessity to scrap the vessel on the slipway."

While the hoverbarge order was placed with the previous owners of Ferguson's, a deal has been struck with the new publicly-owned shipbuilder to effectively offload the hull.

It is expected to be finished by the end of next month and the deal includes a 'financial element' agreed between all parties involved.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: "The contract for the hover barge will not be moved to the new, publicly-owned, Ferguson Marine business. "An amicable agreement has been reached between all parties which allows for the launch of the vessel for onward transport and completion by the client."

The order was supposed to be for the 'world's first self-propelled, air-cushioned barge' capable of carrying a load of 150 tonnes 'over tundra, swamps, ice and water'.

Work started in October 2018 shortly after the deal was signed.