Exclusive:Ferries row Scotland: Delayed Glen Sannox gets approval from safety regulator following design changes

The alterations to the Glen Sannox ferry cost at least an extra £24 million

Changes to the safety design of the much delayed and overbudget ferries have been signed off by the regulator in a significant step forward for the ships.

However, Ferguson Marine shipyard is facing “material uncertainty” about its future due to a lack of future work after reporting a deficit of nearly £1 million in 2022/23.

The audit also confirmed David Tydeman, the yard’s chief executive, received almost £40,000 in bonuses, with a further £47,217 paid to other staff within the 2022/23 financial year.

The Glen Sannox ferry. Picture: John Devlin

The Glen Sannox had faced the possibility of being banned from entering service after safety regulator the Maritime and Coastguard Agency raised concerns about emergency exit routes.

The ferry, one of two being constructed at Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow, is six years late and three-and-half-times their original £97 million budget.

Economy secretary Neil Gray is set to update MSPs on the progress of the ferries and the yard in Holyrood later on Tuesday afternoon.

However, it is understood the design changes made by the yard, which included widening corridors and fitting additional staircases, have been signed off by the MCA, allowing the ship to progress closer to completion.

The Glen Sannox is unlikely to take passengers until May next year due to the changes demanded by the MCA, despite a planned delivery date of March 31, 2024. Dock trials are set to begin early next month.

These changes will also be applied to Glen Rosa, previously known as hull 802, which also had its delivery date delayed to May 2025 due to the issues.

It is set to be launched – when the vessel enters the water as part of the construction process – on March 12 next year.

Mr Tydeman had previously told MSPs the safety issue with the Glen Sannox was “not a minor thing”, and was “pretty fundamental to whether the design of the ferry allows it to sail”.

Audit Scotland, who undertook the shipyard’s annual audit, have also raised concerns about the yard’s ability to stay afloat.

They said uncertainty around future income, notably due to a lack of agreed future work, raised serious concerns about the yard’s future.

They said: “With no contracted work beyond completion of the two vessels, there remains uncertainty surrounding the future financial sustainability of the organisation.”

Auditors also revealed bonus payments made to managers at the yard were “purely discretionary” and were not “part of your contractual remuneration”. Management at the yard had concluded it had an “obligation” to pay the bonuses due to performance targets being met.

No such targets have been agreed for 2023/24, with the yard remaining in discussions with the Scottish Government about the operating model.