Anger over 'lavish' £26,000 taxpayer-funded allowance handed to shipyard boss flown in from Canada

The interim boss of a nationalised shipyard has been handed a £26,000 hotel and subsistence allowance after being flown in from Canada to take up the post.

John Petticrew was installed as interim chief executive of Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow in late March after David Tydeman was axed from the role.

Details unearthed by the Mail show he has been handed a hotel and subsistence allowance of £25,620 for a six month period in the role.

He has also been provided with car hire for six months, although FMPG did not disclose the costs.

In addition, he made an expenses claim in April for a £1,709 Air Canada economy class flight and £537 subsistence during a trip in March, when he was a non-executive director prior to his appointment as chief executive.

Scottish Conservative transport spokesman Graham Simpson said: ‘The SNP’s ferries scandal continues to haemorrhage taxpayers’ money at an astonishing rate, as betrayed islanders continue to wait for the desperately needed new ferries that are six years late.

‘This lavish expenses package for Ferguson Marine’s interim chief executive will stick in the throat of many Scots - and it wouldn’t have been necessary if SNP ministers hadn’t made his predecessor just another scapegoat for their monumental incompetence.

‘It’s shameful that no SNP heads have rolled for this national scandal.’

Mr Tydeman had his contract terminated after warning of more delays to the contract at the centre of Scotland’s ferries fiasco.

The Glen Sannox was originally supposed to be finished in early 2018, while the Glen Rosa was due to be handed over by the end of that year.

The two ships are due to cost £360million, compared to an original estimate of £90million, and the Scottish Government also handed the previous private operator of the shipyard a £45million loan.

After his appointment, Mr Petticrew told MSPs that there are ‘challenges’ with completing the LNG fuel system for the ferries by the planned target of the end of May.

Mr Petticrew’s annual salary has not been disclosed. But his predecessor, David Tydeman, was paid £232,500-a-year. 

The Glen Sannox is now due to be handed over by the shipyard in the week beginning 19 August following another three-week delay.

In an update to MSPs last week, Mr Petticrew said challenges linked to the ship’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion system were the main problem.

In his regular monthly progress update, external to MSPs, Mr Petticrew said: ‘The LNG system has been well-documented as the biggest challenge we were facing since our last report.

‘It has proved even more difficult and has impacted the progress in other areas, namely the engine compartments.’

Mr Petticrew listed a number of remaining challenges, which include acceptance trials and sign-off by safety regulator the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The second ship, Glen Rosa, was launched from the slipway earlier this year and fitting out work is expected to be complete by September 2025.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: 'This figure does not reflect actual or anticipated spend. It is the limit on what can be claimed for accommodation and meal subsistence over a six-month period, reflecting the fact that the CEO will not return to Canada within his six-month tenure.

'The interim Chief Executive of Ferguson Marine's remuneration package is in line with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual.'

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