CONFIRMATION of a further delay to the completion of a new ferry set to serve Arran and Ardrossan has been criticised by a West Scotland MSP. 

The Hull 802 ferry, being constructed at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow, is now not expected to be finished until May 2025. 

It will serve the Ardrossan to Brodick route upon completion, bringing much needed capacity to the busy service.

The cost of finishing the vessel, officially named the Glen Rosa, has now increased to £110million. 

The first vessel, the Glen Sannox, is due to be delivered in March next year, at a cost of £130million.

Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman has confirmed that any delays with this vessel would impact on the Glen Rosa moving forward.

MSP Katy Clark has now called on further investment at the shipyard to fix the problems that have plagued the site over the build of the two ferries. 

The Labour politician said: “Islanders will understandably be extremely disappointed this costly and extremely overdue vessel has now been delayed yet again.

"The failure by the Scottish Government to provide reliable lifetime ferry services for the islands is a disgrace. 

“There is no doubt that a litany of mistakes have been at the Ferguson Marine shipyard, some stemming back to all the way before nationalisation.

“These mistakes must be learned from, but having visited the yard this week  and met with management and the workforce, it is clear investment is also urgently needed to secure the yard’s long term future.

“Islanders need a steady pipeline of ferries and the workers at Ferguson Marine need job security. When I visited the site it was clear from all I spoke to that the site is really too small to build vessels of this size and that changes made to the yard by previous owners are a significant problem.

“Investment is needed to reverse the previous changes made so the yard is properly equipped to build smaller vessels and undertake other work in the future.

"I very much hope the Scottish Government is willing to agree to this investment."

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “This latest update is obviously disappointing.

“The Scottish Government’s priorities have always been and remain the completion of the two ferries, securing a future for the yard and its workforce and supporting our island communities that rely on this type of vessel on a daily basis.

“Ferguson Marine has been asked to do everything possible to minimise costs and ensure these ferries are able to enter service as soon as possible.”