THE failure of Inverclyde's state-owned shipyard to secure a Scottish ferry building contract has been labelled an 'international humiliation' by the Scottish Labour leader.

Ferguson Marine failed to make the shortlist to build two new ferries to serve the islands of Jura and Islay, with the work set to go Poland, Romania or Turkey.

Speaking during First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Anas Sarwar challenged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to explain how 'a Scottish yard, supporting Scottish jobs and owned by the Scottish Government, failed to even make the shortlist'.

He added: "The failure to deliver these ferries is the result of complacency and ineptitude on the part of this SNP government."