Ferry fiasco boss in line for MORE bonus cash – despite Humza Yousaf saying they should end

The boss of the nationalised shipyard at the centre of Scotland’s ferries fiasco is in line for further bonus payments despite Humza Yousaf saying they should end.

Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman will continue to be eligible for performance-related pay.

He received almost £40,000 in bonuses in 2022-23 and will be eligible for further payments in the current financial year following an internal review.

Two CalMac ferries being built at the Port Glasgow shipyard have faced major delays and cost overruns. Senior managers were handed £87,000 of performance-related bonus payments in 2020-21.

It was confirmed earlier this year that a further £47,000 of payments were being made to eight managers for performance in 2022-23.

At the time, Mr Yousaf said he had made it clear that no further bonuses should be paid.

Ferguson Marine chief executive David Tydeman will continue to be eligible for performance-related pay

CalMac ferries MV Glen Rosa and Glen Sannox are several years behind schedule and massively over budget

Tory transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘Given that these ferries have yet to sail, are wildly over-budget, and this counts as one of the greatest scandals of the SNP’s time in office, people will be flabbergasted that bonuses are even a possibility.

‘The Scottish public expect someone to take responsibility for this fiasco. Yet instead of ministerial resignations, they see yet more public money handed out.’

When he appeared in front of the Scottish parliament’s public audit committee in June, Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow chairman Andrew Miller defended the use of bonuses – and attempted to rebrand them as ‘retention incentives’.

He denied there was still a ‘gravy train culture’ and claimed the removal of the payments would put the future of the yard at risk.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Miller said: ‘Attracting and retaining the highest calibre of people is vitally important to securing the future of the shipyard. Equally, the remuneration committee has a duty to ensure that stringent KPIs (key performance indicators) are met by people in senior roles.

‘A sensible balance must be struck which I believe we have achieved; Mr Tydeman received only 40 per cent of his “at risk retention element” of his contract, given that key KPIs and milestones for delivery of both dual- fuel vessels were not met.

‘In terms of the current financial year, we have further restricted the “salary at risk’’ potential; only Mr Tydeman will be eligible for bonuses in the future.’

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