Nicola Sturgeon under pressure to investigate ferries scandal as 'stink of corruption' grows

Nicola Sturgeon is under renewed pressure to agree to a public inquiry into Scotland’s ferries scandal after new claims that the delayed and over-budget ships may never set sail.

Leaked documents show that the number of faults with the two ships, which were originally due to be ready in 2018, had risen to 237 by March. They highlight a serious risk that they may never be accepted by CMAL, the public body that owns Scotland's ferries fleet.

The Scottish Tories said that “the stink of corruption is growing” around the commissioning of the vessels, with the contract handed to a shipyard owned by a then pro-independence businessman in 2015 despite the objections of officials.

It emerged this week that the deal had been agreed by Derek Mackay, the disgraced former transport minister, and approved by Deputy First Minister John Swinney despite warnings that it could be open to a legal challenge from yards that missed out on the work.

In the documents, obtained by The Herald on Sunday, CMAL states that the most pressing risk issue was the failure of the now nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard “to completely understand the actual remaining works that must be completed in order to deliver each vessel".

It adds: “The resolution of these is considered crucial prior to vessel handover. The impact of which remains unknown and not factored into the vessel programme.”

The documents, from last month, said there was “no agreed solution” to the ongoing problems on one of the vessels and that if they were not resolved acceptance of it "will be difficult to achieve".

The Scottish Government has said the ships, known as the Glen Sannox and Hull 802, will be ready next year - five years late - while the cost has ballooned from £97 million to almost £250 million.

Liam Kerr, the Scottish Tory MSP, said: "The SNP's mishandling of the ferries is a national scandal and the stink of corruption is growing.

"Years late and massively over budget, it now appears CMAL could reject Glen Sannox and Hull 802.

"Under scrutiny at Holyrood last week, Nicola Sturgeon's attempts to push all the blame on to a former minister [Mr Mackay] reeked of desperation.

"Meanwhile, islanders can't get to work, hospital or get on with life as normal. The people of Scotland deserve answers and they deserve a public inquiry into this sordid mess."

The SNP has so far resisted demands for a public inquiry into the fiasco, claiming that Audit Scotland and Holyrood committees have examined the issues in detail and other investigations are ongoing.

However, ministers are yet to fully explain why the contract was awarded to Ferguson Marine, despite the objections of officials, after the yard reneged on a funding guarantee that would have protected taxpayers.

Jim McColl, the former owner of Ferguson Marine at the time that the contract was awarded, had saved the yard in 2014 in a favour to Alex Salmond in the run up to the independence referendum.

He has since fallen out with the Scottish Government, which he believes handed the yard the contract for political reasons, and recently branded Ms Sturgeon a liar for claiming the deal had saved hundreds of jobs.

Willie Rennie, economy spokesman for the Scottish LibDems, described news of the growing number of faults with the ferries as “worrying for islanders”, who are enduring regular breakdowns of old ships they are meant to replace.

“The ageing fleet is experiencing breakdown after breakdown and its having a crushing impact on rural businesses, tourism and everyone who relies on these services,” he said.

“The fact no SNP minister is willing to accept responsibility is galling. Workers, taxpayers and islanders all deserve a public inquiry.”

A spokesman for CMAL said the organisation was “confident that outstanding issues can and will be rectified, and the vessels completed to enter service.”

He added: “We will continue to work in partnership and remain committed to the completion of the two ferries."

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Until those vessels are serving the communities for which they were built, we will not let up in our drive and determination to get them finished and delivered.”