Ferguson Marine, Scotland's state-owned shipyard in Port Glasgow, is cutting 70 of its 283 posts — nearly a quarter of its workforce — through voluntary redundancy as it waits for the Scottish government to confirm four promised vessel orders, according to BBC News.
Workforce reduction at a glance
BBC News reported that workers at Ferguson Marine have been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy as construction draws to a close on the second of two long-delayed CalMac ferries. The yard currently employs 283 staff, including 34 apprentices, and expects to shed 70 posts through the voluntary process.
| Workforce metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Current total staff | 283 |
| Apprentices | 34 |
| Planned voluntary redundancy posts | 70 |
| Share of workforce affected | Nearly a quarter |
Ferguson Marine is the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, according to BBC News. It was nationalised in 2019 after a long dispute between its former owner and government-owned ferries agency Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) over claims for extra costs for two dual-fuel CalMac ferries. The shipyard recently completed sub-contracting work for BAE Systems for new Type 26 frigates and currently has no confirmed future orders, BBC News reported.
Ferries, contracts and delivery timeline
The first of the two ferries, MV Glen Sannox, was finally delivered in November 2024, BBC News reported. MV Glen Rosa is due for completion by the end of this year. The vessel has now been moved downriver to Inchgreen for final fitting out and commissioning, leaving the main Port Glasgow yard without a ship under construction for the first time in 12 years, according to BBC News.
| Vessel or order | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MV Glen Sannox | Dual-fuel CalMac ferry | Delivered November 2024 |
| MV Glen Rosa | Dual-fuel CalMac ferry | Final commissioning at Inchgreen; completion due by end of 2026 |
| Four future vessels | Two small CalMac ferries, a fisheries research ship, a marine protection vessel | Promised by Scottish government; contracts not yet confirmed |
In March, before the Holyrood election, the Scottish government announced plans to directly award the yard contracts for the four future vessels, according to BBC News. It said the vessels — two small CalMac ferries, a fisheries research ship and a marine protection vessel — would provide a "bridge to the future" for the yard.
Government promises vs. due diligence
Then Economy Secretary Kate Forbes said the government had "done a lot of the upfront work in terms of scoping out, securing some of the legal advice about what is possible", according to BBC News. She added that engagement with the Competition and Markets Authority would be required. Since then, none of the contracts have been confirmed, with ministers saying "due diligence" is still being carried out, BBC News reported.
CEO: "Inevitable gap in workload"
Ferguson Marine CEO Graeme Thomson said the yard's immediate focus is the handover of Glen Rosa before the end of this year, but acknowledged the gap in work. According to BBC News, Thomson said:
However, as the vessel nears completion, we face an inevitable gap in workload while we work with the Scottish government to make the relevant preparations to enable us to proceed with contract negotiations. Shipbuilding capability relies on continuity and while changes of this nature are difficult, taking proactive action now ensures we protect the long-term viability of the yard and remain lean, modern, and ready to cut steel on the new fleet as quickly as possible.
Production timeline
- Voluntary redundancy applications are now open at Ferguson Marine, according to BBC News.
- MV Glen Rosa handover is due before the end of the year.
- Contract negotiations for four future vessels will follow Scottish government due diligence and Competition and Markets Authority engagement.
- Steel cutting on the new fleet is targeted once contracts are confirmed, with the CEO stating the yard will be "ready to cut steel on the new fleet as quickly as possible."
For manufacturing executives and procurement professionals, the situation illustrates how public-sector order pipelines affect plant capacity and workforce stability. With a 70-post reduction and no confirmed future orders, the last commercial yard on the Clyde must preserve enough skilled labour to start the promised fleet once the due-diligence process concludes.
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