The troubled Ferguson Marine shipyard near Glasgow is in negotiations to build Offshore Patrol Vessels for Bangladesh.
The Sunday Mail reported that the yard has held preliminary talks with a number of prospective international clients for future work – including for military ships.
A spokeswoman said:
“We are involved in discussions with multiple potential customers, both domestic and international, for contracts covering a range of vessel types including ferries, offshore patrol vessels and offshore wind farm service vessels.
We are actively pursuing the next vessel order but all discussions are commercially sensitive. Details of any secured contract will be announced when the time is right.”
What’s going on at the yard, why did we call it “troubled”?
Ferguson shipyard, which had hoped to take part in the build of new Type 31 frigates but was unable to due to issues during the build of two ferries, recently announcing a further delay to the ferries that are already many years behind schedule.
It is understood that anywhere between 400 and 900 cables are to be stripped out on ‘Hull 801’ and ‘Hull 802’, some more than 100 metres long.
MV Glen Sannox (referred to as Hull 801) and the unnamed Hull 802 were supposed to be in service 2018 and 2019 respectively but are both are now hoped to enter service around 2023.
In update from Ferguson Marine on hulls 801 and 802, Tim Hair said:
“I regret to advise you that a problem has recently emerged with the build of 801 which I thought I should immediately bring to your attention.
Each of the ferries under construction at Ferguson relies on a complex network of cables, requiring the installation of over 9800 individual cables with a total length of 243km. Approximately 15% of these (Legacy Cables) were installed on 801 under the control of Ferguson Marine Engineering Limited (FMEL) prior to its Administration in August 2019. None of the Legacy Cables were installed after the Scottish Government took control of the yard.
It has recently emerged that a large proportion of the Legacy Cables have not been installed in line with the engineering information held by FMEL, leaving the free ends too short connect them to the equipment.”
Hair added:
“The legacy cables are predominantly in the machinery spaces and either supply equipment required to commission the vessel, or they run in cable trays which will also support new cables. Commissioning and further cable installation cannot take place until the legacy cables are corrected, delaying the overall project to deliver 801. There will inevitably be knock-on effects that will delay the schedule for 802. At present it is not possible to determine the impact on schedule and cost.”
Type 31 Frigates?
Then Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited the Ferguson Marine shipyard at Port Glasgow in 2017 where he remarked upon the opportunity for the Clyde yard to build the new frigates. Babcock, Thales, BMT, Harland & Wolff and Ferguson Marine had teamed up to form ‘Team 31’ a consortium to bid for the Type 31 Frigate.
Babcock CEO Archie Bethel said:
“Team 31 will allow Babcock and Thales to take forward the key lessons from the Aircraft Carrier Alliance and apply them in a new and highly capable team with Harland & Wolff, BMT and Ferguson Marine.”
While Babcock eventually won the bid, Ferguson Marine was no longer able to recieve any work due to issues at the yard.
After Harland & Wolff and Ferguson Marine both collapsed into administration, Bethel told the Financial Times that both yards would still “get a chance to bid” but the company “would not risk the programme” subcontracting work out to them.
Mr Bethel later pointed out that Babcock had the capacity to do the work itself at Rosyth, meaning it didn’t have to rely on other yards and said that Babcock had won the bid on the basis of the work being done “100 per cent at Rosyth”, adding that with the exception of France’s Thales, “none of our members were risk-sharing”. He also said that the yards would be welcome to bid again should the issues be sorted and they “pass the same hurdles that any suppliers have to pass in terms of financial security and security of supply. Assuming that [any] new owners can do that, they will be included in the process.”
In short, issues at the Ferguson Marine yard with the ferries meant they could no longer take part in the Type 31 frigate programme alongside Babcock with the frigate now being built entirely at Rosyth. The delay to the ferries has cost the Port Glasgow shipyard work on new frigates.
😮😯😐😁😂
Hopefully they can employ contractors who can read and use a measuring tape. This is good news if they can.
Hadn’t realised April 1st came twice a year?
Astounding that this modernised yard managed to F. U. so badly. Still trust it can turn around, though attempting to step up from failed ferries to warships appears, err, ‘brave’.
The stench of desperation is overwhelming.
They should probably build something after the ferries to show they can manage it. Right now the yard is in the bad press. Build a patrol vessel if all goes well it shows the yard is good and it can then be sold from the governments books. Sell the ship to the border force. They seem to be having issues in the channel.
as a british-bangladeshi this isnt really spoken about, only the acquisition of 5 type 31 and the future frigate programme is happening, i doubt this would happen,
Why would the UK Government do that?
Right now they could give the work to another yard, in England or Scotland, the same number of jobs would be there…, without the colossal risk of Ferguson Marine being involved, but with the benefit of the SNP led government having a long running, self made, political fiasco to deal with, with no way out…its a win win for the Westminster Gov…
What I meant was build a ship then sell it. I only mentioned the border force as they seem to be having difficulty in the English Channel. The point is if an order is not forthcoming build a ship that is needed then sell.
I don’t understand what’s a win win for Westminster. The U.K. is one country and problems in one area doesn’t benefit another.
The Scottish government (not just SNP) took over the ship yard as it would save more money finishing the ferries in situ than closing the yard and then finishing else where.
The Scottish government was set up so no party should have an overall majority so big decisions have to have support from the majority of MSP’s.
Looks like a Russian Gatling cannon mount up front? Can that be replaced with a British 30mm RWS?
In the news, the 🇬🇧 is telling the world we’re sending Stormer Starstreak vehicles to 🇺🇦.
Why oh why can’t this stuff be kept quiet. If you need to tell, say it well afterwards. Hope Ukraine is planning a huge counter-attack in their East while watching their North…but please don’t tell anyone.
Johnsonski and Wallace are desperate to keep their seats at the next general election, hence the publicity. The Stormer was built by Alvis back in the day and is classed as a Light Armoured Vehicle.
The MoD cut the number of available fire units from 156 to 84 so i expect those that the Ukraine will be getting will come from storage and will need refurbishment first. The ones the Army still has have a new fire control system and automatic target tracking for the HVM.The Ukraine is lucky, Stormer Starstreak is a good bit of kit
As things are urgent I suspect we will give them active ones and backfill with modernised ones?
I should think the UkR Army have aready got them. Even Johnsonski isn’t so stupid as to announce to the Russians that they are on their way now
Really, I’m would never underestimate the mans ability to put his foot in his mouth.
David/SB. Would you rather have BJ who at least is working with the Ukraine or Sir Keir who is probably more afraid of his deputy than Putin?
That’s sort of the issue with Keir, he represents a thin veneer of respectability …. Just don’t look too carefully, Abbott and the rest of the comedy company are just under the surface waiting to grab the reigns again….
He looks respectable and appears sensible, but appears to have no policies apart from criticism of anything the Government do. Labour will have to do ‘far’ better to stand a chance at the next election….
Don’t look to closely at the “policies ” of the Labour Party membership either, never mind the MPs.
AUKUS gone for starters, they voted against it. I believe “young labour” are against NATO too.
It really is terrifying.
It certainly is mate…..
Totally agree, very worrying.
Let’s send Starmer instead of Stormer to Ukraine
Diane Abbott for Chancellor of the Exchequer we want more Diversity as well and every judge too have a criminal record to be more in line with those that come before them and Labour will get my vote (NOT)
Ok yes and i agree Boris and party have got a lot wrong, but in that same period got a lot right.
Starmer is a new leader, but the under current is the same old labour.
and they are more concerned on blaming someone else than looking for a option, some of the tory are as bad.
you only need to look @ the failing Local Councils around the country and they are all labour run.
i dont have a party, i vote what is best for the area, in the general election both Liberals and Labour were going to ignore what the people had voted for. Brexit maybe not have been that great, but we need to get over we lost a vote. or didnt agree, because
And I’ll bet my bottom Dollar it wasn’t just the Tories who had a drink during lockdown BJ is hardly John pafumo why can’t Starmer let it go.Its enough too make One Drink , ,,,, ,ill get my coat
Still haven’t forgiven him for the UK troops misconduct investigation scandal!
Doris is the man for this job.
He is a wartime leader precisely because he will go with advice and instinct.
Johnson has repeatedly lied to Parliament which means he should resign but the man has no shame.
Good Point, what MP doesn’t lie. they all do, and i am sure you have lied, its a human trait.
trouble is the simple seem to thinks its grounds to resign, NO BODY WOULD HAVE A JOB.
True, but going on that fact, all MPs would need to resign…
All of them are guilty of lying or as they call it, only saying what is in the publics interest…
That’s the bloody problem. They cant or won’t say what they think is right. Only what they think they should say to be with the party.
I would have whips dismissed. Free vote on every issue. Do what you think is right not what ur told. If u make bad decisions it’s your own fault and people can elect someone else.
The lords seem to do it a little better with voting on what they think is right but only a tiny little bit better.
It takes a real heartless person to stand up for some of the policies on both sides.
Its a toughy, while the Labour party is still suspect, they have a (seemingly at least) competent leader. The Tories have it the other way round although there is plenty to be raked over there too.
Its quite depressing where our politics are.
True Andy, after the Ukraine crisis is over and we have a solid strategy for dealing with Covid moving forward, Boris just has to go.
Taking the Tories into another General election would be a mistake in my view. He isn’t the right man to lead into the future, but he is the right man for right now….
I wonder if he’s sensible enough to jump himself when the times right, or will he be driven away from No10 in tears like Mrs Thatcher….
Issue being look @ all the ones who are standing behind him, who rode in on his coat tails to power, and look at what was before him, Mrs May couldnt organise a tea party and Cameron run off once he realised he had made a huge mistake.
They are all failed ministers who have all done a job and failed in that task.
so who do they nail there flag to.
The Understanding is that anything going out to Ukraine is basic and stripped of all current systems.
so nothing that is currently active, all from deep store which are serviced and maintained.
If the U.K. have it not been used, train the Ukrainians and send the kit. Just give them everything. The new Russian offensive has started. British army can get nice new stuff. Boris needs to replace what he’s sending rapidly.
I’m sure if they put a sticker saying return to sender when no longer needed Ukraine will do it.
From what I can gather from mainstream media and OSINT the UkA Army have been seriously shelling the Russians in Donetsk and Luhansk and east in Russia itself, as their refurbished battalions were forming up.
Reading between the lines they must have been expending a phenomenal amount of ammunition and let’s hope the West manages to keep them adequately re-supplied
Thanks for your above reply and the others also. Let’s hope 🇺🇦 forces are i
giving the Russian’s another good hiding especially if their tanks etc are all out in the open. Hope they can counter attack a bit in Mariupol before it’s too late.
Might be the only way the British Army will get a lot of nice new stuff.
What is the ability of the UK to still build armoured vehicles. Is there a plan? I think they shut Vickers tank factory years ago as part of the peace dividend. So stupid aren’t we?
Yes Vickers was closed and is now a film site, smaller localised sites across the country can produce now. but if you wanted to build a new MBT. they would resort to using the many Heavy engineering firms across the country.
but the development cost and limited markets are not worth having a dedicated production facilities much like the aero and heli UK industries.
“Johnsonski”? I think you’ll find Bojo has Turkish not Polish ancestry.
Thank god Jeremy Corbynova didn’t win in 2019, he’d be sending the Stormers to Russia to use against the Ukrainians!
Agree, for heavens sake put up a credible opposition candidate. Boris won partly due to an opposition leader that hated the country he wanted to lead. Cause and effect, Labour are responsible for Boris being where he is.
Honestly there’s not that much difference between the politicians. One side is really posh and career politicians, the other slightly posh and career politicians
A fair summary although I’m not sure Angela will make the cut for “slightly posh”. 😉
Monkey Spanker All future MPs should have criminal records prior too entering the Houses of Parliament and that goes as well too the Legal profession that should Level the country up which MPs keep talking about
Someone who’s been in the poop and got out the other side would be worthy of a vote. They understand what it’s like to struggle to need help and to grow and learn from bad experiences.
A millionaire career politician is incapable of knowing what a hard life is so can’t make policies that help people out of that situation. What they are great at is helping there millionaire buddies get a bit richer and work the system to their advantage. Simple stuff. Broad range of society should be represented.
It’s impossible for a normal person to get into a major party mp running now
👏 you’ve got my round of applause Monkey
I feared that the Russian’s would attack on a series of narrow fronts with the aim of breaking through is a number of places, encircling the dug in Ukrainian forces and then destroying them in detail.
Instead the Ukrainians are saying that the Russians are attacking on a broad 300km front. If this is indeed what they arre doinng then it seems to me that the Russians are making the same mistake again, spreading their forces over a wide area and diluting their effectiveness…
Good luck to the Ukrainains.
CR
It feels like the dumbest of WWI strategies.
All we need is one more big push boys……..
We never managed as wide a front as 300km in WW1 even with 50 divisions on the Western front. We did however in 1918 make attacks in succession on several fronts, all with massive artillery barrages and destroyed the Germans sector by sector with fresh attacks with French and USA. Amazing we had the guts to do it after 4 years of slaughter. British Army with Australians and Canadians brilliant.
I didn’t say we had done that.
I said it would be a dumb strategy straight out of the Dumb Strategies from WWI playbook!
To move putins drinks cabinet closer to Kiev
Is Russian tactics to spread out and find a weak point and attack through there? Nato has a different strategy of trying to get overwhelming firepower then moving forward. Russia’s method takes a lot more casualties but has its plus points also. Not sure what they are yet.
Shush CR. Don’t tell the Russians that. They’ll change their tactics now! Go Ukraine!😂
It’s a typical Russian (Soviet) strategy. The aim is to overwhelm you opponent by attacks across a very broad front. As they will spread their troops to counter it. However, Russia would then have a sizeable number of reserve units that would then be used to punch through weak spots when found. The traditional way of dealing with this approach is defence in depth. However, with the advent of modern ATGMs etc, a more mobile and flexible approach can be used.
From what we’ve seen so far, Russia are either unwilling or simply do not have enough modern guided munitions. So rather than use a more modern approach they have reverted to using the hammer, i.e. artillery and rocketry. If they can backfill their troop losses quickly enough, even with raw recruits they may overwhelm Ukraine’s forces.
Deterrent effect?
If the Russians know there are Stormers with StarStreak then they can go in with attack choppers.
Also will frighten off the pilots. If they know there is a weapon about that they cannot deal with mechanical reliability of the choppers might become more of an issue!!
The other side of the coin is that if the Ukrainians take out the choppers they way they have taken out the tanks, which is not unlikely, then there is no top cover or low level attack so the Ukrainian artillery can breath a bit more easily.
Photos of them would appear sooner or later, and they can only come from one place.
This lack of secrecy is totally dumb. What a way to run a war!
Who was the MoD spokesman during the Falklands war who publicly said the Argie bombs weren’t exploding on our ships because they were not fused correctly (their A4’s were flying too low). So then they corrected their mistake and… the rest is history…
That was the BBC.
That was fecking Brian hanrahan told the whole world the Next day 25th the Cov took 4 x 500lb which detonated on impact
When I found out, I was all for keelhauling him down the length of ‘Vince.
It sure seems like it. I just hope we’re sending more than we say and sooner than we say… but I do wonder what ever happened to the shore based Harpoon battery story? Hope it’s tucked away securely somewhere ready for use .. Lol 😁
It’s to act as a deterrent and give Putin more to think about when assessing how likely he is to win this war. Before Russia invaded Ukraine we should have told Russia we have provided the Ukrainians with 10,000 NLAW, 5,000 Starstrek, Patriot, Ground launched Brimstone the full works so that he was in no doubt this war would cause as much devastation to Russia as it would Ukraine. If he knew 20,000 Russian soldiers would die in Ukraine he would not have been so keen to invade.
BB85 Ti’s a pity about 20,000 kIA but too psychopaths like Putin a number is just a number there is no empathy following through his viens what he wants he’ll try and get regardless of the cost that’s the nature of that beast , And unfortunately unless someone has the balls too take him out he will just continue
Down but not out!
Is the above correct I was of the opinion that Bangladesh will be building the ships in house, but in conjunction with a western company, I quote from 2020:
They are also running a future frigate program (Again to be built in house) they are currently looking at:
I’ll put my money on the Turkish frigate as Ankara is currently pushing towards rebuilding the Ottoman Empire (100 year anniversary next year of its disbandment) and I feel that the pocket dictator will come out with some sort of Islamic NATO with Turkey at the head and acting as the arms supplier to the rest. Currently looking at
Libya
Pakistan
Azerbaijan
Somalia
Qatar
Malaysia
Signing up.
the ships will be a mix of in house and domestic for the patrol vessels, the frigate the requirement is to be domestic and the type 31e is part of another acquisition which will be 5 ships (the budget for the type 31 for bd is US$2 billion) this is known knowledge in bangladesh just the patrol vessel is a bit of a surprise as the country is now trying to build domestic
The article goes on to say it’s looking a wide variety of ships for military and civilian customers. As far I can grasp Bangladesh is making its ships at home shipyards. I can’t see where this fits in to their current plans.
Looks like the yard is just trying to get something on the books. Once the ferries are finished that’s it for Ferguson. I doubt the Scottish government will keep it open with no orders. They will be looking to sell the yard back to private ownership. Maybe they may get another Scottish government ship order for a ferry or patrol ship. If they don’t mess that up ferguson may survive. trying to compete with Bangladesh shipyards is stupid. Especially as 3 of them are owned by the navy.
Hopefully Ferguson find a role for themselves for the future. Ship building, refits or whatever.
While the next two ferries are being built abroad, you would think that future much needed replacements could be built at Ferguson’s, assuming they get their shit together. Ideally a privately owned Ferguson’s.
The mess at Ferguson’s yard is unfortunately typical of a state owned company.
Nationalise and watch things start to slide, we see it over and over, it’s a microcosm of the 1970’s all over again…
It’s a worrying sign of the SNP’s direction of travel…
👍spot on if you want too see a Country slide in productivity and wealth Nationalise everything that’s productive and watch it go (out the window) John
The yard wasn’t nationalised then told to build the ferries. The private sector messed up so badly that the yard would close with 2 partially built ferries stranded. What else could be done?
As for the other couple of nationalised items they were approved by the Scottish government (not just SNP) and had a solid business case for temporary nationalisation.
It’s the same as what Westminster did in the financial crisis. Nationalised then sell back when appropriate.
Good vid of a day in the life of Mariupol on youtube search.
(NSFW) POV: One Day During The Siege Of Mariupol
Slava Ukraini.
Would be good to see a rescued yard winning contracts for non government sourced work. No point in propping up yards if they can’t ever do anything other than government money with over runs.
No point in rescuing a yard that seems unable to build a functional vessel……
Most Bangladeshi navy ships are built in China or South Korea these days , I don’t see why they would want to change that.
not south korea , mostly either china or domestic but are trying to stay neutral but the border crossings and india damning crucial rivers in the country is making them be more pro china than india
Jockanese ship building eh? Dear Bangladesh you new patrol boats will be delivered in 2050 but unfortunately without engines, rudders, propellors, generators, crew quarters, weapons systems, rador or working galley. 🙂
Love the piss take!! 😁
Ferguson Marine, didnt they build a ship called the Moskva 🙂
Best of luck in the bid… however how can they hope to undercut a Bangladesh shipbuilding yard?
Ferguson is effectively being propped up UK tax payers atm. I don’t fancy subsidising the Bangladesh Navy tbh.
Hi Expat – Good comments.
Although, until it fell into difficulties about 10 years ago – it was a good shipyard, with a long history of supplying the CAL-MAC fleet.
There is no great strategic or social need to keep Ferguson open. There are other yards in Scotland and UK – indeed further up the Clyde! Workers can seek employment at BAE in Glasgow on T26. Or even at Rosyth on T31.
But we have commented on here that there may be a glut of orders coming from UK government (ie National Shipbuilding strategy), and some under-capacity in the ship-building industry.
If so, the yard should be able to secure a buyer in the private sector.
This is tragic to be honest. I see no point in reinforcing failure.
Is that a Russian AK-630 turret? Looks like it.
Yep, minus the tracking radar. They can be controlled manually via a remote control or through a dedicated work station. The manual system looks like something out of the 1960s.
A Russian gun in what appears to be an Italian Lerici MCM?
I guess these are to replace the Castle Class OPVs they are using
They are an old established yard. Too many have became defunct over the last 50 years. I hope that they resolve their short term issues with a challenging design and current box ticking carried out by all political parties. They have built many good ships in the past and long may they do so in the future.
With the Rivers B2 doing such a good job I wonder why this design or an adaption of it isn’t being pushed more in the Indo-Pacific? To Bangladesh, Phillipines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Tongaa? As has been said before there’s a lot a lot of competition from the Dutch and Korean but the RB2s are currently demonstrating their operational value.
What’s the point? It will be well obsolete by the time it’s delivered. Stick a clockwork gun on one of the ferries & supply it with a Tug.
That’s quite a lot of wire now destined for the scrap yard what’s the going rate for copper , Was the wiring diagrams Metric or imperial ?
I Mean would you considering that the issues with the problems of these builds has nothing to how the yards were run, but more to do with the quality of the work and the ability of those staff to read and measure drawings.
I Wouldn’t allow them to build a pedalo let alone a warship. Maybe they can get work off P&O run on similar standards.
WTF has gone wrong with Apprentice training or don’t apprenticeships count anymore If you’ve got a Btec as a Nail technician with a certificate by the sounds of it Yeah you’ll do go and wire that Ferry up