What happened to the £14.2m ministers pledged to Ferguson Marine?

Plans to revive Ferguson Marine in Scotland are facing fresh uncertainty over promised funding and vessel contracts. The Scottish Government announced a £14.2m investment in July 2024, but sources now say only £570,000 has been committed over the two-year programme. Funding requests approved—11 in total—have been directed to essential repairs and new equipment to improve productivity, with no additional money approved since October. The yard’s workforce of 310 staff and apprentices would shrink as ministers seek around 70 voluntary redundancies, a move unions called a betrayal of “a blameless workforce.” The government is still considering direct award contracts for four new vessels—two small ferries, a fisheries research vessel and a marine protection vessel—pending legal, financial and commercial checks, while also reviewing the yard’s business plan.