Ferguson Marine faces crisis after losing ferry contract to Poland

In early 2025, the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Inverclyde, Scotland, faced a significant setback after losing a highly anticipated contract to build a fleet of new ferries for Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). The contract, valued at £175 million, was awarded to Remontowa, a Polish shipyard based in Gdansk. This decision raised serious concerns for the future of Ferguson Marine, particularly as it had no further work lined up following the completion of the delayed Glen Rosa vessel. The yard was betting on this contract to secure its medium-term viability, making the loss particularly devastating. Ferguson’s inability to secure ongoing contracts highlights broader challenges within the UK shipbuilding industry. Prior to the decision, CMAL had shortlisted six bidders for the ferry contracts, including Ferguson and other UK competitors. However, Remontowa emerged as the lead bidder after scoring the highest in the evaluation process. This development added further pressure on Ferguson, which had already faced criticism for delays and cost overruns in previous projects, leading critics to label its future uncertain, claiming this could be the 'death knell' for the yard. Political reactions to the award of the contract were varied. The Scottish National Party (SNP) received both praise and criticism for prioritising consumer interests by moving the contract abroad. While some argued that awarding the contract to a foreign yard undermined local employment, others commended the decision, viewing it as necessary for economic rationality. The Labour leader Anas Sarwar suggested that the SNP's decision endangered local jobs and labeled it as favoring 'Stronger for Poland' versus 'Stronger for Scotland.' This rhetoric underlines the intense political emotions tied to the decision. In the face of this crisis, the future of Ferguson Marine now hinges on its ability to adapt and secure new contracts. The shipyard’s management has expressed disappointment over the loss but is reportedly seeking new opportunities in other sectors or projects to sustain operations. Given the financial implications of losing a major contract, increased pressure is now on the yard to demonstrate its viability and attract new business to prevent potential job losses and further decline.