FEARS over the future of jobs at CalMac's Gourock HQ have surfaced as ministers look to radically reform the ferry services.

Labour MSP Neil Bibby and his party colleague and current council candidate Martin McCluskey are today calling on the government to come clean over their plans for a shake-up which could have far-reaching consequences for the operator.

Reports this week suggest that consultants brought in for a review have been asked to look at 'unbundling' routes into smaller packages and decentralising the service.

Mr Bibby and Mr McCluskey want assurances that there are no plans to privatise or break up CalMac, which has around 200 staff at its Gourock base.

Instead the pair want the government to commit to making Inverclyde the capital of the country's ferry fleet.

Mr McCluskey said: “Leaked documents show that the SNP government have asked consultants to look at options to privatise parts of CalMac and to break up the ferry network.

“Gourock is the headquarters of CalMac and any proposal to decentralise or break up the company raises questions about the future of jobs here.

"The Scottish Government urgently need to take this off the table and guarantee that our ferries will not be privatised or broken up.

"If I am elected to Inverclyde Council in May, protecting these jobs in Gourock will be a priority.

“If the government have any imagination they should be able to see that with CalMac in Gourock, Ferguson Marine and CMAL in Port Glasgow and Dales Marine in Greenock, there is an opportunity to make Inverclyde the heart of Scotland’s ferry fleet.

"Proposals that could put that at risk should be binned.”

The country faces a deepening ferry crisis, with an ageing fleet and major delays to the two ferries being built at Ferguson's.

Scottish Labour transport spokesperson Mr Bibby wants the First Minister and her team to rule out any suggestion of breaking up CalMac.

He added: "If they fail to do so then the government must explain its position in a ministerial statement to parliament."

The government's transport agency insists the independent review is looking at all options over the future delivery of ferry services.

Transport Scotland said: “The independent review of governance arrangements for Scottish Government lifeline ferry services will present a framework consisting of a range of options to the overarching objective of effective, efficient and economic delivery of lifeline ferry services, to enhance passenger experience and support local island economies.

“The consultants were given a wider remit to look at all possible options around delivery of ferry services.

"This included decentralised models.

"The report has yet to be finalised and no decisions taken on any of the options at this point.

“Once the final report has been considered by ministers, there will be engagement with all key stakeholders to ensure the most efficient and best value arrangement to deliver our key lifeline ferry services.”