The Herald Scotland reported that Scotland’s ministers have come under fire after state-controlled ferry owners Caledonian Maritime Assets has confirmed that steel from China is being used for two new ferries being built in Turkey because sourcing materials from war-torn Ukraine has been ruled out. In the Islay ferries contract award, Caledonian Maritime Assets, which owns the nation's ageing ferry fleet, had invited four overseas companies to bid to build the two vessels bound for Islay. State-controlled Ferguson Marine failed to get past the first Pre Qualification Questionnaire hurdle in the Islay ferries contract and is still struggling to produce two delayed vessels. Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard is three months into the construction of two new lifeline ferries for Islay as part or a GBP 105 million contract controversially given to the Turkish shipyard eight months ago. They have already been named preferred bidder to win a GBP 115 million contract to build two more ferries for longsuffering islanders as attempts are made to shore up the nation’s ageing ferry fleet. Mr Jim McColl, owner of Ferguson Marine before it fell into administration in August, 2019 and then nationalized said he was surprised that the steel is being sourced in China. He said “During my ownership of the yard, we were specific about not buying steel from China, largely because of issues about quality control.” Scottish steel magnate Sir David Murray said he is surprised the steel had not been sourced from Scotland's last major steelworks which was formally reopened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2016. The Dalzell plate mill in Motherwell was mothballed by Tata Steel in 2015, along with the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang. About 225 jobs were lost. It was rescued by Sanjeev Gupta’s now-troubled GFG group which took over both facilities under a deal brokered by the Scottish government's steel task force. Dalzell has traditionally provided steel plate for industries such as shipbuilding, construction, mining, oil production and heavy vehicle manufacture.
The Herald Scotland reported that Scotland’s ministers have come under fire after state-controlled ferry owners Caledonian Maritime Assets has confirmed that steel from China is being used for two new ferries being built in Turkey because sourcing materials from war-torn Ukraine has been ruled out. In the Islay ferries contract award, Caledonian Maritime Assets, which owns the nation's ageing ferry fleet, had invited four overseas companies to bid to build the two vessels bound for Islay. State-controlled Ferguson Marine failed to get past the first Pre Qualification Questionnaire hurdle in the Islay ferries contract and is still struggling to produce two delayed vessels. Cemre Marin Endustri shipyard is three months into the construction of two new lifeline ferries for Islay as part or a GBP 105 million contract controversially given to the Turkish shipyard eight months ago. They have already been named preferred bidder to win a GBP 115 million contract to build two more ferries for longsuffering islanders as attempts are made to shore up the nation’s ageing ferry fleet. Mr Jim McColl, owner of Ferguson Marine before it fell into administration in August, 2019 and then nationalized said he was surprised that the steel is being sourced in China. He said “During my ownership of the yard, we were specific about not buying steel from China, largely because of issues about quality control.” Scottish steel magnate Sir David Murray said he is surprised the steel had not been sourced from Scotland's last major steelworks which was formally reopened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2016. The Dalzell plate mill in Motherwell was mothballed by Tata Steel in 2015, along with the Clydebridge plant in Cambuslang. About 225 jobs were lost. It was rescued by Sanjeev Gupta’s now-troubled GFG group which took over both facilities under a deal brokered by the Scottish government's steel task force. Dalzell has traditionally provided steel plate for industries such as shipbuilding, construction, mining, oil production and heavy vehicle manufacture.
