Shipbuilding

That the Parliament notes that Turkey-based Cemre Marin Endustri has been commissioned to build two CalMac ferries for Islay, with state-owned yard Ferguson Marine at Port Glasgow not making the shortlist; notes the view that Scotland needs an industrial strategy to ensure capacity is built upon and public service vessels are commissioned and built in Scotland; understands that a significant proportion of the UK’s shipbuilding capacity can be found along the River Clyde, where HMS Glasgow, HMS Belfast and HMS Cardiff are currently under construction for the Royal Navy; further understands that just two ferries operating on core service routes have been delivered to CalMac since 2007 and that half of all state-owned vessels are over 25 years old; notes that Ferguson Marine has trialled what it considers ground-breaking hydrogen-fuelled ferries through the HySeas III project and has a seat on the UK Government’s Clean Maritime Council; further notes that the International Maritime Organization’s Greenhouse Gas Strategy commits countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 emission levels, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to ensure that contracts to build zero emission ferries outlined in its Infrastructure Investment Plan to 2025-26 are directly awarded to publicly-owned shipyards in Scotland or the rest of the UK.