I visited Ferguson Marine in Port Glasgow yesterday to check on the progress of vessels 801 and 802.
801 is the one that was 'launched' by Nicola Sturgeon with blacked-out windows and fake funnel. It was clear there is a lot of work being done to fix problems on that boat but new boss David Tydeman seems confident it will be ready next year. He is an impressive figure who I think can get results.
Workers were certainly busy when I visited. 802 is a shell at the moment, which gives the yard the chance to get things right.
The yard is pitching for work which they can do once these ill-fated ferries are out of the way. The Scottish Government, therefore has decisions to make very soon.
Will Fergusons be allowed to take on work from abroad for example. If it does then it won't be able to bid to build any ferries here for a while.
What system of running our ferries does the transport minister want. She will have to decide sharpish because Calmac's contract runs out in 2024.
That's why we need to see the Project Neptune report. It is being sat on by the minister.
My understanding is it will set out various options but I am being told not to get too excited. I'm not, I just want to see it so we can start to have a sensible discussion over how we run and procure ferries.
