Fishery protection vessel rethink

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The new Scottish government is to carry out a review into whether a new £20m fisheries protection vessel is needed.

The previous executive had agreed to put a contract for building the boat out to tender.

The Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow had previously been expected to bid for the contract.

But the new SNP administration has announced it is to examine whether there is any need to increase the fleet from four vessels to five.

The issue will be looked at as part of a wide-ranging review of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) fleet renewal programme.

Trish Godman, the Labour MSP for West Renfrewshire whose constituency includes the Ferguson yard, had asked ministers when they would authorise the signing of a contract for the construction of the vessel.

But in a written answer, rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead revealed the review was to take place before any contract was put out to tender.

Ferguson seem to be ticking over by bringing in other types of work Trish Godman MSP

He said: "I propose to initiate a review of the fleet renewal programme in order to assess the performance aims of the agency, including the case for an increase in the SFPA's fleet from four to five vessels."

Mr Lochhead added: "Pending that review a contract for the construction of a new fisheries protection vessel is not anticipated in the immediate future."

It is understood Ferguson would not be in a position to bid for the contract as its order book is full for the next two and a half years and it does not currently have the capacity to build such a large vessel.

The SNP government is also said to not be convinced that the SFPA requires a new protection vessel.

Ms Godman said the possibility of the protection vessel contract being scrapped "certainly doesn't help" Ferguson.

She added: "Unless a ship is on the stocks then a ship building company is obviously in trouble, but Ferguson seem to be ticking over by bringing in other types of work."