Ferguson Marine has provided an update to the NZET Committee of the Scottish Government on 19 April 2024 regarding the status of two shipbuilding projects, Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa.
The letter from Interim CEO John Petticrew detailed recent completions and ongoing challenges in the construction of these vessels.
Petticrew reported that the three planned events for this period, as outlined in the company’s Risk Registers, have been completed. These include the dry docking and hull inspection of Glen Sannox by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), additional builder sea trials for the same vessel, and the launch of Glen Rosa.
Regarding Glen Sannox, Petticrew wrote, “We have reviewed the forecast cost to deliver Glen Sannox, previously reported as within the range £145.5m to £149.1m, and we remain confident we can close within this range.”
However, he noted challenges with the LNG system: “The installation and commissioning of the LNG system, a first in class for UK shipbuilding, remains particularly challenging.” The complexity and difficulty of the installation, along with a shortage of expert knowledge and qualified resources in the UK, have led to delays.
The new targeted delivery date for Glen Sannox is now 31 July 2024.
For Glen Rosa, Petticrew reported that the vessel was launched as planned and named on 9 April. He stated, “We have reviewed the forecast cost to complete, previously reported as ‘not to exceed a maximum of £150m’ for Glen Rosa, and we remain confident we can deliver it within this budget.” The scheduled delivery for Glen Rosa remains set for September 2025.
Petticrew concluded the update by inviting stakeholders to visit the yard, showing, in my view, a commitment to transparency. He also acknowledged the disappointment caused by the delays, particularly in Arran, but emphasised the team’s focused approach to overcoming these challenges.
Why is this being published in the UK Defence Journal?
Some might be asking, why is a defence news website updating readers about ferries? The UK Defence Journal is committed to providing comprehensive coverage of naval shipbuilding and the broader maritime defence industry. This includes a dedicated focus on civilian shipbuilding activities, a sector that significantly influences and supports the naval defence landscape. The integration of civilian shipbuilding coverage reflects our understanding of the sector’s strategic importance, where advancements and capacities within civilian yards often directly contribute to the capabilities and flexibility of naval defence projects.
Furthermore, the health of these shipyards is of national strategic interest, underpinning the UK’s ability to sustain a dual-capable maritime industry that serves both commercial and defence purposes.
Going to work out more expensive than another 5 type 31’s 😂
And thats not including the cost of fitting Phalanx and a 4.5 inch gun. More SNP incompetence. Too busy buying campervans and upsetting Greens on Net Zero 😅
Why would you fit a 4.5 ins gun to a ferry unless its goin to end a a stuft,ship hope fully will be ready in time if the argiea try another falklans move
Certainly more expensive than a mid spec warship……
Unbelievable really.
Shows and appalling approach to design, project planning & management & subcontracting.
Most of this could have been bottomed out in a few short meetings with competent people.
My guess the first one probably into service 2025. The other in 2026. Total bill to exceed 300 million. The dual fuel aspect to never work properly unless they throw millions more at it.
Passed £300 million 2 years ago the estimate is now £400 million. Original budget £97 million.
Scottish Parliament was costed at ~£40 million. Real cost ~£400 million. Par for the course.
The ferry shambles shouldn’t be on this forum . There are enough newspapers giving their versions of the ferry project and where it has gone wrong and who is to blame . Unfortunately the real facts will never be made public , the government will make sure of that. Let’s just move on .
While you may not care about the few remaining shipyards in the U.K. and what they are doing I do along with others.
It’s not compulsory to post if you’re not interested.
I’ve not read the article about the shoulders returning or the one about 77,000 that could be called up as it’s not a priority for me right now.
I wouldn’t go on there and comment saying these are pointless articles just because I’m not interested right now.
I do care about the remaining shipyards , I used to work in shipbuilding , however they are in a pretty poor state . What your saying about 77,000 being called up , not a clue what your on about .
I too John, I started my apprenticeship in Doxfords Sunderland, then left to join the coal mines. Nothing left there now except a Japanese car maker up river. We really need to have a ship building capability
Agreed. We need ship building ‘in depth’. Management, and politicians, can be sacked but we need the up skilling of the work force at Ferguson’s and elsewhere.
The article states clearly why it’s important, John. Thus the declaration of both your care for the industry & your previous employment should make you well aware of the infrastructure imperatives relevant to this forum, without anyone feeling the need to ‘teach the art of egg sucking’ – sorry. For clarity, again I state I’m not Scottish, though very much whole UK minded. Never lived north of the Thames & mostly right on the south coast. My grandfather, though, certainly was – spending his whole life (apart from WW1 which tried very hard to spend that for him) within the… Read more »
Remember the Falklands RN 43 ships RFA 22 and STUFT 62 Merchant ships.
Up to George what he wants to post – he owns the site – it is called free speech….
The mess needs to be publicised so it isn’t repeated. So there is value there.
On balance in happier it is reported.
Although I disagree that this yard is vital to anything…..it would be easier to move the workers to BAE to work on T26. There is plenty of space there once the new mega shed is built.
John this is a decision for the Editor. People enjoy this journal and seem quite happy to simply skip the items they don’t enjoy. Pick up any newspaper or magazine and I dare say you would skip many of the items automoatically. I believe George has an interest in ship building which, if I’m not mistaken, was the basis for starting ukdefencejournal..
If the enormous cost is not enough
LNG is apparently a lot more polluting than desiel.The engines are dual fuel so why not run them on desiel and give the islanders the service they need. The truth is these two ships were never about the latter. Let’s hope more arrests follow and Sturgeon loses her Teflon coating.
Because the greenies not kbowing anything demanded it and snp%went alo g for the votes.
I would be wary transferring to ferries the dubious results of an oft-quoted very small test on lorries by a campaign group. I’d also be wary about saying “a lot”, when the results were marginal, depending on upstream pollution assumptions (such as methane leakage during extraction and transport of LNG) to tip the balance.
I’m not saying LNG is better, but I am saying headlines need to be read-past to reach the nitty-gritty on this comparison.