Cmal

A committee of MSP said there had been a “lack of robust due diligence” on the part of CMAL in assessing the financial stability of the vessel delivery contractor, Ferguson Marine.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has announced that the vessel currently known as Hull 802 will be named MV Glen Rosa, following a public vote which saw nearly 5,000 entries.

Cmal said Mr Hobbs’ views had not changed since the June meeting but Ferguson Marine had not informed it of any change to the December 2024 delivery date, “so that is the date everyone involved in the project it still working towards”.

Ferry procurement body, CMAL, previously told The Scotsman the contract “must get underway by the end of the year as the next priority”, but this has been delayed as the Scottish Government continues to cut budgets in order to break even.

Having CMAL, Calmac and Fergusons structured as an integrated entity and working on a collaborative plan for Scottish ferries in association with the privately-owned ferry and with local authority ferry organisations, would be a good way to proceed.

He told the transport minister: "With delays to the vessels lengthening and indeed their costs rising, I am writing to query why two senior CMAL officials are engaging on what frankly appears to me to be a junket.

In the Islay ferries contract award, CMAL, which owns the nation's ageing ferry fleet, had invited four overseas to bid to build the two vessels bound for Islay - and excluded Ferguson Marine.

The Committee’s report said Ms Sturgeon’s high-profile visit to the Ferguson Marine yard in Port Glasgow on 31 August 2015 probably weakened the negotiating hand of the state ferry procurement body CMAL.

They, as generalists, rely on CMAL/CalMac to inform them, who in turn are under pressure from trade unions to maintain restrictive and inefficient practices – no proper management rigour or leadership.

Ferguson's has said it expects to lose nearly £40m on the ferry deal, which is being procured through the public-sector agency CMAL.

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has appointed Story Contracting to carry out expansion work at Oban ferry terminal.

If CMAL can see the way to handing over the building to the community for a peppercorn rent there is no reason why the newly formed Arran Development Trust can use it as a building block for future plans.

Meanwhile on Thursday Argyll and Bute Council’s Harbour Board will decide if it will continue to support CMAL’s expansion plans, or a pause.