The nationalised Ferguson shipyard has missed out on a crucial order for seven small all-electric ferries for west coast operator Caledonian MacBrayne.

Ferries procurement agency CMAL has instead named a Polish firm, Remontowa, as preferred bidder for the small vessels replacement programme (SVRP).

Ferguson’s, the last commercial shipyard on the Clyde, had vowed to bid “aggressively” for the contract and had made it onto a shortlist of six bidders.

A total of £175m has been allocated to build the new “loch class” vessels and complete harbour and shore power upgrades. The first ferries are due to join the CalMac fleet in 2027.

The contract was a key part of Ferguson Marine’s five-year business plan following delays and cost overruns in the construction of two much larger ferries for CalMac.

The 50m (164ft) all-electric ferries are similar to ones it has delivered successfully in the past and could have given it a pipeline of repeatable work lasting several years.

But the Port Glasgow shipyard is also pursuing other business opportunities, including defence sub-contracting work from BAE Systems and private sector work.

Remontowa, based in Gdansk, has previously built the CalMac ferries MV Argyle, MV Bute and MV Finlaggan, and was runner up to Ferguson’s when the contracts for MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa were awarded in 2015.

CMAL chief executive Kevin Hobbs said the bids had been assessed against a range of technical and financial criteria, weighted 65% on quality and 35% on cost.

He said: “It is our responsibility to follow the Public Procurement Strategy for Scotland and appoint a yard capable of producing quality vessels which meet the needs of islanders, but that also deliver the best value for the public purse.

“We are confident in Remontowa’s ability, and have worked with them before, most recently with the delivery of the MV Finlaggan in 2011.”

There now follows a 10-day “standstill period” after which the contract will be signed.

The new ferries will operate on the Colintraive-Rhubodach (Bute); Lochaline-Fishnish (Mull); Tarbert (Loch Fyne)-Portavadie; Iona-Fionnphort (Mull); Sconser-Raasay; Tobermory-Kilchoan (Mull); and Tayinloan-Gigha routes.

Phase two of the programme will see the purchase of three more vessels which are capable of handling more challenging sea states, but that contract will go to tender separately.

Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said the new ferries would improve “connectivity and resiliance” for island communities.

“Their electric operation will contribute to reduced carbon emissions from Scotland’s ferry fleet and make ferry travel more sustainable,” she added.

The ferries will also be fitted with back-up diesel engines, and CMAL has previously warned they may operate on diesel initially these because of challenges in upgrading the power grid.

Ferguson Marine had lobbied along with trade unions and local politicians for the publicly-funded small vessels replacement programme contract to be awarded to it directly.

But the Scottish government said it feared doing so might breach UK subsidy control laws, and the contract was put out to competitive tender.

Thirteen firms expressed an interest in the SVRP, with Ferguson’s making it onto a shortlist of six bidders.

Inverclyde’s Labour MP Martin McCluskey accused the Scottish government of “prioritising opportunities in Poland rather than Port Glasgow”.

“Ferguson’s successfully built vessels similar to these in the past and could again,” he said

“The contract award took no consideration of the social impact of not awarding these contracts to Port Glasgow – the same mistake cannot be made in the next round of the small vessels replacement programme.

“The workers in the yard deserve a break after years of being let down by the Scottish government and poor management.”

Ferguson’s employs about 300 workers and apprentices in area of high deprivation and has built six out of the 10 largest ships currently in CalMac’s fleet.

But the firm has struggled with construction of MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa, the first dual-fuel ferries built in the UK capable of running on liquefied natural gas.

Design challenges, disputes over rising costs and an acrimonious stand-off with the customer CMAL saw the firm return to administration in 2019 when it was nationalised, with problems continuing under public ownership.

The recently-delivered Glen Sannox has been praised by ferry users on the Arran route but the ship was unexpectedly taken out of service on Friday after a hairline crack in a weld on its hull led to a small leak.

The fault was quickly repaired and the ship resumed sailings on Sunday.

The second ship MV Glen Rosa is in the final stages of construction with another delay expected when the next delivery update is given shortly.

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