Minister admits it is cheaper to build a new ship but that would threaten jobs at Ferguson Marine.
Ministers will continue funding the construction of a second ferry at Ferguson shipyard despite it being cheaper to build a new ship elsewhere.
The current boss of the shipyard - which was nationalised in 2019 - now expects the first ship, Glen Sannox, to be delivered this autumn, followed by the as-yet unnamed Hull 802 in the late summer of 2024. "These are not matters that can be taken into account in a pure value for money exercise but clearly they are matters of the utmost importance," he said.
For the Scottish Conservatives, Graham Simpson said: "The building of ferries 801 and 802 has been a shambles from start to finish.By his opponents' calculation, Neil Gray is the eighth minister to take responsibility for the CalMac ferry-building contract at Ferguson shipyard. He must hope he'll be the last, but he's off to a difficult start.
Mr Gray has done so, wanting to give the shipyard a chance to succeed after this calamitous contract. Admitting defeat would surely sink the yard, and lose 340 jobs. Further contracts will require further investment, so the Scottish government is now considering the use of even more scarce public funds.
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