Bus Firm Interested In Shipyard

18 August 2014, 14:22 | Updated: 18 August 2014, 14:25

A bus firm has expressed an interest in taking on a struggling shipbuilder after it went into administration.

A total of 70 people were made redundant immediately last week when it was announced that the Ferguson shipyard in Port Glasgow, Inverclyde, had gone into administration.

Sandy and James Easdale, the owners of McGill's Buses, may be able to provide a lifeline for the yard, which was the last commercial shipbuilder on the River Clyde.

The businessmen have expressed an interest in saving the firm, with Sandy Easdale stating: "We have contacted the administrators, KPMG, through our accountants.

"This is a highly-skilled workforce and it is a vital business for our area.

"With Government assistance, both in Edinburgh and London, I am sure we can secure orders.''

It came as Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney visited the yard to see what assistance the Scottish Government could provide.

Ferguson Shipbuilders, which dates back to 1902, went into administration at the end of last week following "significant cashflow pressure'' in recent months.

Blair Nimmo, joint administrator and head of restructuring for KPMG in Scotland, said then that the shipbuilder was a "Leading name in the industry with a rich heritage dating back more than 110 years''.

He added: "A lack of significant orders and mounting cashflow pressure has led to the group's inability to continue trading.''