A Clydeside shipyard has new technical problems including issues with 125 miles of cables are posing a further threat to a project to deliver one of the vessels at the centre of Scotland's ferry fiasco.
New nationalised Ferguson Marine analysis reveals that there remains a concern that the number of faults outstanding are a risk to the acceptance of the two vessels currently languishing at their shipyard.
There had been past concerns that a spiralling catalogue of faults with vessels to serious shipyard concerns over whether they will ever see service.
In May, internal documents from nationalised shipyard firm Ferguson Marine admitted a serious risk that minister-controlled ferry owners and procurers Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited may not accept the vessels for the ferry operator CalMac’s lifeline services to Scotland’s island communities. Those concerns remain.
Officially, Glen Sannox and Hull 802, which are due to serve the Clyde and Hebrides ferry network will be delayed until at least next year – over five years later than planned while costs have at least doubled from £97m to £250m.
But a July CMAL update raised further concerns about delivery, saying that a Ferguson Marine project report from May "did not consider the significant threats posed by the continued risk of late able installation".
It said that consideration is only given to the reinstatement of nearly 17 miles of cables removed from Glen Sannox in February.
But it said "no consideration" was given to the main body of cable installation that extended ship-wide totalling 125 miles.
The Herald has much more here on the challenges of the project.
