IS there any end to the Ferguson's fiasco ferries saga?

By now, you could be forgiven for thinking the answer to that question is a resounding 'no'.

Just when it seemed that genuine progress was being made and that a set timetable had been publicly put in place for trials and entry into service, everything has changed yet again.

This time it's due to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency ordering last-minute design changes affecting staircases on Glen Sannox and Hull 802.

Frankly, it beggars belief that it has taken this long in the process to find this out.

The immediate upshot is that sea trials have been delayed, but there is also an ominous warning that 'a further update' on costs and delivery dates will have to be issued next month.

Goodness only knows what it will bring.

Taxpayers may discover that another big item has been added to the ever-increasing £300m bill, while the fed-up passengers who have been waiting five years and counting on these vessels must despair of them ever arriving.

Hopefully this is the last, sorry twist in the scandal, but if experience has taught us anything it's that we should rule nothing out.