The Scottish Government has refused to investigate the finance deal for the Stornoway ferry, MV Loch Seaforth.
The government struck an arrangement for Lloyds Banking Group to build the £43 million vessel and hire it under an eight year lease.
Lloyds Bank submitted the best of three tenders.
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant raised the issue in the Scottish Parliament.
Islands’ Minister Paul Wheelhouse replied: “The Scottish Government therefore has no plans to investigate the financing of the MV Loch Seaforth.”
He stated: “A full tender process for a lease arrangement was undertaken by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd in line with European Union procurement rules.
“That resulted in the award of the contract to Lloyds Banking Group as its tender was assessed as the most economically advantageous.”
He added: “Audit Scotland published its report to Parliament, “Transport Scotland’s ferry services”, in October 2017.
“It included comment on the MV Loch Seaforth procurement, but having concluded its analysis of this and other procurement decisions, Audit Scotland did not raise anything of concern regarding the procurement of the MV Loch Seaforth.
Rhoda Grant responded: “ That is truly disappointing. It is shocking that the boat will require to be handed back as new in 2022 or have a further lease negotiated.”
The MSP hit out at the high level of travel disruption caused by “inadequate ferries” this summer.
She accused the government of “turning a blind eye” and should invest in a new ferry.
Mr Wheelhouse criticised her “lack of recognition” of the £1 billion put into in the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services since 2007.
Two new ships have been commissioned from Scottish shipbuilder Ferguson Marine, he added.
He acknowledge the “great concern” in the islands around assuring the resilience of the ferry services.
He said: “In recognition of the importance of the issue, the Government has invested in ferries and in harbour facilities across routes in the area. We continue to invest in ferry services.”
Later, Rhoda Grant said the minister’s response “fell drastically short” in substance.
She said it would be difficult for island communities to raise any “degree of recognition given that £53 million of the spend will be worthless when the vessel goes back to is owners, Lloyds Bank.”
The MSP concluded: “This fight is far from over as funding, late ferry replacement, capacity, lifeline services, tourism and ordinary island life is being treated with no consideration whatsoever by this government as the ageing threadbare fleet of CMAL fails to cope.
“It is preposterous to contemplate that through all of this Cal Mac handed £6 million pounds back to the government.
“Why on earth was this money not used to relieve the suffering of the folk in the Western Isles and Argyll who have been so desperately inconvenienced.”
Probe into Loch Seaforth finance deal ruled out
7 September 2018
