MINISTERS are facing a £5m claim in a dispute over a secret deal that paved the way to the nationalisation of the shipyard at the centre of Scotland s ferry building fiasco. Details of the claim have come as it emerged that the Scottish Government gave up £21m in insurance payments in relation to the collapse of Ferguson Marine Engineering Ltd (FMEL) as part of the confidential agreement. Ministers had ploughed in bailout loans totalling £45m to ailing Ferguson Marine, before it fell into administration two years ago. Details of the action came as the Herald on Sunday revealed last week that the Scottish Government faces a penalty of up to £190m because of irregularities in spending hundreds of millions in Euro funds which have stretched back six years.
INSTALLATION work on a new £2m linkspan at Gourock Ferry Terminal has been completed more than two months behind schedule. The project had been due to be finished before the end of last year but surveys carried out following the removal of the old structure revealed previously hidden issues with the berth. Meanwhile, work on a number of snagging items and modifications to berthing fenders mean that the linkspan won t be fully operational until later this month. It is understood that a recent docking trial for CalMac ferries highlighted the need for minor alterations . The fender modifications mean the passenger-only MVs Argyll Flyer and Ali Cat will continue to operate on an amended timetable and some sailings will continue to use the terminal s boat steps.
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