Ferguson shipyard misses out on Clyde ferries contract

A contract to build two new small ferries for the River Clyde has gone to a shipyard in Merseyside

Privately-owned Western Ferries announced that Cammell Laird, based at Birkenhead, was preferred bidder to build the vessels for its Gourock to Dunoon Route.

The nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard, which had hoped to win the contract, described the news as "disappointing".

The Port Glasgow based firm has no new orders beyond the CalMac ferry Glen Rosa, but is pursuing contracting work on the Type 26 frigates currently being built by BAE Systems in Glasgow.