Face of Nation : Administrators for the Port Glasgow yard have held talks with several potential buyers and said they were “encouraged” by the interest so far.
The shipyard is operating under a management agreement with administrators, which will see the Scottish government buy Ferguson if no private buyer comes forward. About 300 people work at the yard.
Ferguson went into administration following a dispute with Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd – which buys and leases CalMac ships on behalf of the Scottish government – over the construction of two £97m ferries.
Economy Secretary Derek Mackay has said details of a “robust delivery schedule” for the CalMac ferries must be announced by the end of October. Scottish government has made two loans to Ferguson Marine, totalling £45m, and what happens to these remains unclear.
A spokesman for joint administrator Deloitte, who refused to be drawn on how many interested parties the firm had spoken to, said it was working hard to determine if a commercially-viable solution for the yard could be identified.
He added: “The joint administrators are undertaking a sale process and are actively engaged in discussions with a number of potentially-interested parties, however it is early in the process and therefore it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this stage.
“We have been encouraged by the level of interest in the yard so far but would encourage any remaining parties who may have an interest to contact us.” When the Port Glasgow shipyard went into administration on 16 August the Scottish government agreed to take control of the facility under a management agreement with administrators.
This deal means Scottish ministers will buy Ferguson Marine if no private buyer is found within four weeks of the date of the firm going into administration.
The monthly wage bill for workers at the yard is being met from Scottish government funds and a new board has been put in place to come up with a plan to finish the delayed CalMac ferries.
