Ferguson Marine’s Interim Chief Executive Extends Tenure Amid Search for Permanent Replacement

The temporary head of the Ferguson Marine shipyard has consented to remain in his position until Easter, as the company faces difficulties in securing a permanent chief executive. Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) were informed that a potential candidate had been identified but withdrew their interest 10 days prior. John Petticrew, the incumbent chief executive, stated his intention to extend his contract. He also indicated that he would willingly accept the role on a permanent basis, were it not for his family obligations located in Canada. The Port Glasgow shipyard has been central to Scotland’s protracted ferries dispute. However, last week, it successfully handed over the Glen Sannox, which is the initial vessel of two LNG ships under construction for Caledonian MacBrayne. These vessels have encountered numerous issues related to their design and construction, resulting in costs that are four times their original budget and a delay of six years. Mr. Petticrew informed Holyrood’s net zero energy and transport committee that, in his opinion, the fundamental cause of the problems was an inadequate design process for the ships prior to the commencement of construction. He explained that the dual-fuel LNG technology itself was not inherently complex, but integrating it into a vessel the size of the Glen Sannox presented significant challenges, describing the engine room as “very congested”. Furthermore, he noted that obtaining regulatory approval was challenging because UK authorities lacked familiarity with dual-fuel LNG vessels. Mr. Petticrew chose not to offer an opinion regarding the initial decision to commission such vessels. However, he did state that the LNG system aboard the Glen Sannox was currently “working fabulously” and expressed a desire for its installation on the second CalMac ferry, the Glen Rosa. LNG is recognized as a fuel that burns more cleanly compared to traditional marine gas oil, although the environmental advantages concerning carbon emissions from using LNG are debated, particularly for the short island routes these two ferries are intended for. Mr. Petticrew assumed the role of chief executive in March, following the unexpected dismissal of his predecessor, David Tydeman, by the Ferguson Marine board. Mr. Tydeman had served at the shipyard for two years and had received commendation for the advancements achieved on both ferries, which came after prolonged challenges in their design and construction. Nevertheless, board chairman Andrew Miller stated that the directors had lost faith in Mr. Tydeman’s capacity to forecast the delivery date of the Glen Sannox or to provide precise updates regarding emerging issues. The committee was informed that since that time, the shipyard has declared an additional four delays, primarily attributed to difficulties in installing the LNG systems, but also stemming from an issue with the anchor operation that surfaced during acceptance trials. Mr. Miller indicated that the ongoing controversy surrounding the ferries and the ambiguity regarding the shipyard’s future have complicated the process of recruiting a permanent successor for Mr. Petticrew. BBC Scotland understands that a senior manager from Harland & Wolff, who is based in Scotland, had initially agreed to take on the position but subsequently reconsidered. Mr. Petticrew informed the committee that the Glen Rosa remains scheduled for delivery in September of next year. He mentioned that despite the shipyard currently lacking new orders, he was optimistic that it would soon obtain sub-contracting work from a larger facility. This work is thought to pertain to units for the Type 26 frigates, which are being constructed by BAE Systems at its two shipyards located in Glasgow, following a successful trial conducted during his predecessor’s tenure. Mr. Petticrew expressed his belief that the Ferguson shipyard possesses a viable future, provided it undergoes adaptation and modernization of its operations. The Scottish government has committed £14 million in new investment. He stated that a portion of these funds would be allocated to replacing outdated equipment, although proposals for acquiring a new “plating line” seem to have been abandoned. He remarked: “We’ve got to learn you can’t start a vessel until the design’s finished, you can’t start a vessel without a plan, you can’t start two vessels at the same time, you don’t bring in all of the equipment all at the one time and make yourself rent another warehouse.” He concluded: “You do it the way the rest of the world is doing it.”