Ferry f iasco cont... ‘green’ vessel can only run on diesel
SCOTLAND’S ferry fiasco has plumbed new depths after it emerged one of the ecofriendly boats at the centre of the row can currently only run on diesel.
Bosses at Ferguson Marine, in Port Glasgow, Renfrewshire, say a delay in obtaining vital parts means the Glen Sannox – designed to be ‘dual fuel’ powered – will not be able to live up to its greener credentials when it takes to the seas five years late and millions of pounds over budget next May.
It is the latest blow to islanders following a series of setbacks at the Scottish Government-owned shipyard which have left the taxpayer with a £210 million bill.
It comes after a leaked dossier, featured in a BBC documentary last month, suggested the award of the £97 million contract to Ferguson Marine to build the Glen Sannox and another, known as Hull 802, may have been rigged.
News of the latest problem came two days ago in a letter from Ferguson Marine’s chief executive David Tydeman to the convener of Holyrood’s net zero, energy and transport committee, highlighting an ‘important issue’ with the vessel’s power supply.
The ferry is supposed to run on dual fuel, alternating between diesel and greener liquefied natural gas (LNG).
However, the shipyard has not been able to source the parts for the LNG system. Bosses hope that after nine months at sea they will be able to bring the ferry back to dock to fit the missing part and ensure it eventually operates on the dual fuel system.
Mr Tydeman said: ‘Bespoke vacuum sensors are required in the system. These are made to order, unfortunately, on a 36-week lead time from the supplier.
‘Our emerging proposal to deal with this is to maintain the programme for handover of the ship by the end of May at the latest, initially running only with the diesel, single fuel system.
‘The LNG system will be essentially complete on ship by this time and hence we believe we can instal the sensors later whilst the vessel is in service during next summer.’
Previous problems with the Glen Sannox, which is due to serve Caledonian MacBrayne’s Ardrossan to Brodick crossing, include the incorrect installation of hundreds of electrical wires, departing directors paid more than £1 million and safety and specification issues.
The delays have proved embarrassing for the Scottish Government, which has been bombarded with allegations of incompetence and mismanagement since it took over the yard in December 2019.
Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘This revelation just adds to the shambles around the building of this vessel, which was supposed to be climate-friendly.
‘Surely it was known these sensors would be needed but now we are going to be left with a gasguzzling, climate-busting ferry for at least the first nine months of its service.
‘No doubt this will also increase the already spiralling cost of the Glen Sannox.’
Mr Simpson added: ‘The SNP’s handling of this project has been a disgrace from start to finish. We need a public inquiry to establish what went wrong and why.’
Last night a spokesman for the Scottish Government said: ‘Ministers are seeking urgent options on the next steps and expect all possible measures to be taken to deliver the vessel to serve islanders as soon as possible.’
‘This will increase the already spiralling cost’