Last year the Society of Maritime Industries told MPs that a combination of better state support, tax breaks and lower labour costs typically allowed overseas shipyards to undercut UK yards by 10-20%.
The UK’s National Shipbuilding Strategy has called for social value – things like training and supply chain benefits – to be scored as part of publicly-funded orders, in order to give UK shipbuilders a better chance of winning contracts.
CMAL has rejected this, arguing it could conflict with its duties under Scottish procurement law which requires it to adhere to principles of “equal treatment” and “non-discrimination”.
CalMac ferries were among a 150 vessel, 30-year pipeline of potential orders listed in the 2022 refresh of the National Shipbuilding Strategy, external
But since then many of those vessels have gone to overseas shipyards.
A Ministry of Defence contract to provide 24 Royal Navy support vessels such as tugs was subcontracted to Serco which then gave the shipbuilding order to Dutch firm Damen.
An order for a new Northern Lighthouse Board vessel, Pole Star, went to Spain and CMAL has placed ferry orders worth about £570m with overseas companies in Turkey, Poland and China since 2022.