To say the Ferguson Marine yard at Port Glasgow has been a political football would be a monumental understatement.

It often seems, sadly, that those kicking this particular football around do not realise, or far worse do not care, that Ferguson Marine provides hundreds of high-quality jobs in an Inverclyde economy which does not have its troubles to seek. This is lamentable.

The yard found itself in the spotlight again yesterday with the announcement by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes of a planned £14.2m investment in it by the Scottish Government, which has owned the Ferguson Marine operation since it was nationalised in 2019. This investment, over two years, will be focused on modernisation and improving productivity. The aim is to “build a sustainable future” for the yard.

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Many will no doubt pour scorn on this plan, and will likely not even wait to see if it works before deciding it is a case of good money after bad. Such a dismal attitude would chime entirely with all the politically fuelled derision we have seen to date.

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Ferguson Marine’s building of two ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne, the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa, has of course been a troubled tale, leading to the aforementioned nationalisation.

It started with such high hopes - the award of this major contract to a Scottish yard which had been bought out of administration in 2014 in a deal led by seasoned engineering entrepreneur Jim McColl.

The two ferries have been long delayed, and there have been huge cost overruns.

And opposition politicians in Scotland have made merry on the chaos.

At times, some opposition politicians and sections of the electorate who seem determined to bash the Scottish Government at every opportunity in a Punch and Judy show manner have seemed almost gleeful amid this contract woe.

Of course, what has gone wrong has to be scrutinised.

There are obviously various parties involved. Attention has at times focused more on the Scottish Government and the yard itself but we should not overlook the major role played in the procurement process by Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited. CMAL, like Caledonian MacBrayne and since 2019 the Ferguson Marine operation, is owned by the Scottish Government.

However, the storm around Ferguson Marine and the ferries contract in recent years should not be allowed to obscure the simple truth that the survival of this yard really matters.

Ferguson Marine, as already mentioned, provides crucial employment in Inverclyde.

And the yard has a proud history.

The Dunnet family, who owned Ferguson from 1995 until the yard fell into administration in August 2014, put a great and valiant effort into preserving this rich heritage and the vital employment provided at the Port Glasgow site.

Sadly, this brave fight was not enough to stave off insolvency for the shipyard.

Fast-forwarding to yesterday, the Scottish Government noted the Glen Sannox and Glen Rosa are approaching completion.

And the crucial thing now for anyone interested in preserving the Ferguson Marine yard, which currently employs around 250 people, is what happens from here.

And that is what Ms Forbes was addressing yesterday.

As well as the positive investment announcement, there was what could be considered more disappointing news in terms of confirmation that a contract for seven small, all-electric ferries for Caledonian MacBrayne would be put out to competitive tender, rather than being awarded directly to Ferguson Marine.

Ms Forbes said: “Extensive analysis and legal advice confirm that a direct award of the small vessels phase one contract to FMPG (Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow) introduces substantial risks and uncertainties for the shipyard and the communities which rely on the lifeline vessels, due to the strict conditions imposed by the UK Subsidy Control Act.”

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As law firm Slaughter and May notes, “the Subsidy Control Act represents a development of the UK subsidy control regime that came into effect at the end of 2020 as part of the implementation of the UK’s commitments in the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement”.

It is worth noting that no doubt some of Ferguson Marine’s detractors would have been jumping up and down if a direct award had been made, and creating a great deal of noise around what had gone before.

Returning to the positive aspects, it was heartening indeed to hear Ms Forbes voice the Scottish Government’s “unwavering” commitment to preserving the jobs at Ferguson Marine.

After flagging the “substantial risks and uncertainties” that she declared would have been introduced by a direct award of the small vessels contract to Ferguson Marine, Ms Forbes said: “Instead, we will do everything which is legally possible to support the yard and the workforce to secure a long-term future, which is why we have come to an agreement on initiatives and funding to improve productivity.

“When the Scottish Government stepped in to save FMPG in 2019 we did so to preserve jobs and develop the next generation of shipbuilders on the River Clyde. That commitment remains unwavering. The company will of course be able to consider a bid, either individually or in partnership with other yards, but its long-term future depends on winning work on a competitive basis.”

This focus on the long-term future is most welcome, as was the revelation yesterday that BAE Systems was in “advanced negotiations” with Ferguson Marine which could see additional work on the Type 26 frigate programme placed with the Port Glasgow yard.

BAE Systems said: “BAE Systems has a good working relationship with Ferguson Marine, which is a key local supplier of structural steelwork and has built two units for the Type 26 programme.

“We are in advanced negotiations with the company regarding further strengthening our partnership, the placement of additional work subject to agreement of terms and its continued involvement in the programme.”

The Scottish Government said yesterday it had been working with Ferguson Marine “on a long-term business plan which positions the shipyard to bid for and secure new work”.

It added: “Up to £14.2m will be invested over two years subject to the plan passing detailed legal analysis and independent financial and commercial assessments, which should be complete by the autumn.”

Ms Forbes said that, “now that Glen Sannox is approaching handover”, the Scottish Government’s focus is on “the next phase for FMPG’s future".

She declared this “requires change and investment to target new opportunities”.

Ms Forbes added: “The board has developed a business plan that it believes has the potential to secure a competitive future. Subject to independent legal and commercial analysis, the Scottish Government will provide significant new funding to support the yard’s modernisation and improve productivity.

“Additional funding goes hand in hand with winning new commercial contracts, and it is extremely good news that talks with BAE Systems to secure further work have reached this advanced stage.”

This seems like a good assessment of the situation.

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Even more important is the “unwavering” commitment Ms Forbes flagged to preserving employment, and the recognition of the importance of developing the “next generation of shipbuilders on the River Clyde”.

It will not be an easy voyage.

However, what country would not champion a shipbuilding operation such as Ferguson Marine?

The award of the Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox contract to Ferguson Marine looked like the start of a happier chapter in the yard’s history.

It has not quite worked out that way.

However, Ferguson Marine is still operating, and it is encouraging to see Ms Forbes and the Scottish Government getting behind it with an investment plan aimed at enabling the yard to win more work.

There will likely be other major challenges ahead but that, and the recent troubles, are no kind of reasons at all for anyone to give up on this crucial shipyard.

Hopefully, in time, even those who have been so negative about Ferguson Marine might get behind the positive drive to preserve the yard.