Ships must be built on the Clyde
On Friday I reached an agreement on behalf of the Scottish Government to take the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow into public control.
I also visited the yard to speak to the workforce and outline the Scottish Government’s commitment to achieving the best possible outcome for the yard.
Shipbuilding is a vital part of the west of Scotland’s history and still has a part to play.
As a child I spent many a day at the Renfrew riverside in awe of our proud industrial past.
What a privilege to be in a position to give it a future.
Recent speculation over Ferguson’s future has made this an incredibly difficult time for everyone connected to the yard, from the 300-strong workforce, to the local communities in Inverclyde, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire.
I understand that the shadow of closure has been a very real threat hanging over the business.
The Scottish Government has done everything within its power to forge a way forward that would allow the yard to deliver the two new ferries that are needed for the Clyde and Hebrides network, while also protecting vital local jobs.
However, as our efforts progressed, it became increasingly clear that there was no viable commercial option that would secure a future for the business.
That is why myself and the Scottish Government has taken the steps to bring the shipyard under public control.
I want to reassure those employed at the yard that I will continue to work closely with staff and the trades unions – as well as the yard’s suppliers - to ensure as smooth a transition as possible.
There is no doubting the capabilities of the highly skilled workforce in Port Glasgow, and we still believe there is real potential in the Scottish shipbuilding industry.
The longer term future of the yard will also be considered in due course, including a possible return to private ownership.
There have been suggestions that we have turned down a viable offer from Clyde Blowers Capital to save the shipyard, but that is not the case.
We considered it fully over a number of weeks, but it gave us no certainty on the delivery of the vessels and saw no money invested by the company themselves.
There were also serious concerns that entering into the proposal would have been unlawful. That is not an offer that we could take forward.
I gave a commitment to the workforce that we would safeguard the jobs at the yard to ensure the delivery of the new ferries.
The alternative is for us to walk away, allow the company to go into administration, with jobs being lost and the vessels left as empty shells.
Ensuring a future for this Clyde shipyard is the right thing to do.