A coalition of community, civic, religious leaders, and politicians from Labour, SNP, and Scottish Conservatives, along with the GMB union, is calling for the Scottish government to directly award a ferry contract to Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.

The letter emphasizes Ferguson Marine's historic significance, having built a third of CalMac’s fleet, and highlights the skilled workforce’s blamelessness in recent delays, urging support to rebuild the yard’s reputation.

A public letter organized by the GMB trade union and signed by MSPs and local leaders advocates for awarding the contract to Ferguson Marine to secure jobs, support the local economy, and restore the yard's reputation.

First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the complexity of a direct award, citing UK-wide state aid regulations and previous reluctance to bypass competitive processes, but indicated it is actively being considered.

Ferguson Marine, which employs about 300 workers and apprentices in Inverclyde, has faced a challenging decade marked by delays and cost overruns on ships like MV Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, partly due to complex specifications.

The yard has a history of delays and scandals, with costs for vessels rising significantly from initial estimates, including the Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox, which were originally budgeted at £97 million but reportedly quadrupled in cost.

The campaign aims to secure a new vessel for the MV Lord of the Isles route, which is smaller and less complex, and to involve Ferguson Marine in building its replacement, known as Loti, to serve between Lochboisdale and Mallaig.

Ferguson Marine is seeking more work after completing the Glen Rosa, which is due to be handed over next year, having previously missed out on a contract for seven smaller ferries.

Transport Scotland states that shipbuilding is a global competitive market, and any direct award must comply with procurement rules and withstand legal scrutiny, with decisions made on a case-by-case basis.

GMB Scotland Secretary Louise Gilmour criticized the delays and emphasized the importance of the yard to Inverclyde’s economy, calling for a timely decision to dispel ongoing uncertainty.

Ferguson Marine’s new CEO, Graeme Thomson, warned that without the Lord of the Isles contract, the yard would struggle to survive and has called for a direct award.

The decision on the contract is crucial for the yard’s future viability, with industry leaders warning that without it, Ferguson Marine could face collapse.

The yard, which has built over 380 ships since 1903, aims to secure more work to remain operational as the last commercial shipbuilder on the Clyde, supported by local politicians and unions.