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SCOTTISH ministers named Ferguson shipyard yesterday as the preferred bidder for a £97 million contract to build the biggest new ferries on the Clyde since 2001.
The deal is hoped to secure more than 150 jobs.
Ferguson, which was taken over by Clyde Blowers billionaire and former Scottish independence supporter Jim McColl last year, has been named the preferred bidder for the contract to build the vessels for the publicly run Clyde and Hebrides ferry services.
The SNP said the contract is “just reward” for the investment Mr McColl has made in Ferguson in the last year.
RMT Scotland regional organiser Gordon Martin praised the announcement that will “provide work in an area that needs work” and using Scottish labour to build the ships rather than subcontracting them out.
Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd and CalMac Ferries, both wholly owned by the Scottish government, have overseen the design and tendering of the two large dual-fuel ferries.
The contract will see two 100m (328ft) ferries capable of carrying 127 cars or 16 HGVs and up to 1,000 passengers built at the Port Glasgow yard.
