North-east firm Ferguson Modular said yesterday it had awarded a Scottish company the £3.2million contract for refit and refurbishment work on its new accommodation support vessel.
The work by Ferguson Shipbuilders at Port Glasgow is due to be completed by June.
Ferguson Modular, a division of Inverurie’s Ferguson Group, said the project would create an additional 10 posts at its headquarters.
A total of £25million is being invested in the development.
Ferguson Modular, a supplier and manufacturer of offshore accommodation solutions for the energy industry around the world, sees the vessel as a logical extension to its current portfolio.
The vessel will be suitable for use in all major oil and gas provinces, as well as by the renewables sector.
Ferguson Modular said it was “pursuing several leads” for work for the vessel.
Speaking at the award of the outfitting contract, Ferguson Group managing director Steven Ferguson said: “We selected Ferguson Shipbuilders because of its reputation for quality and its recent track record on a similar project.
“We are pleased to keep the contract within Scotland; this is a great advert for Scottish companies and demonstrates the skills which are available competitively in this country.
“Our first accommodation support vessel is part of Ferguson Modular’s ongoing strategy to expand internationally and increase the range of quality accommodation solutions we can offer for rental to both new and existing clients.
“We carried out a wide-ranging consultation on the offshore accommodation market and it pointed to a lack of suitable accommodation support vessels with appropriate quality and standards, as well as the recognition that securing accommodation requirements were being placed higher up project managers’ agendas.”
Richard Deane, managing director of Ferguson Shipbuilders, said: “The award of the contract is a welcome boost for the yard and the community of Inverclyde which will benefit almost immediately with the creation of new employment.
“We look forward to working closely with Ferguson Modular in this new venture and hope to share in its future expansion and success.”