The Scottish Government has confirmed that 
shipyards will not be excluded from bidding on two new Northern Isles freight ferries.
The £200 million contract to build two freight ferries for the Aberdeen–Kirkwall–Lerwick route has shortlisted four shipyards: Cemre and Tersan in Turkey, Guangzhou Shipyard International in China, and a UK–China partnership involving Stena and China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai.
The vessels are intended to replace older freight ships and will carry both cargo and up to 200 passengers at peak times.
In a written answer issued on Nov 5, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said there is “no policy or approach that excludes Chinese companies from bidding for work on Scottish Government led or funded projects.”
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the state-owned procurement body, “considers bids for vessel contracts in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.”
CMAL is expected to carry out “appropriate due diligence, including financial and other checks on all of the companies they invite to tender.”
Concerns have been raised that Chinese yards could have an unfair advantage due to state subsidies. However, the Scottish Government has now made clear that it will not intervene to prevent them from bidding.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/scot-gov-rules
shipyards will not be excluded from bidding on two new Northern Isles freight ferries.
The £200 million contract to build two freight ferries for the Aberdeen–Kirkwall–Lerwick route has shortlisted four shipyards: Cemre and Tersan in Turkey, Guangzhou Shipyard International in China, and a UK–China partnership involving Stena and China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Weihai.
The vessels are intended to replace older freight ships and will carry both cargo and up to 200 passengers at peak times.
In a written answer issued on Nov 5, Transport Secretary Fiona Hyslop said there is “no policy or approach that excludes Chinese companies from bidding for work on Scottish Government led or funded projects.”
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL), the state-owned procurement body, “considers bids for vessel contracts in accordance with the requirements of the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations 2015.”
CMAL is expected to carry out “appropriate due diligence, including financial and other checks on all of the companies they invite to tender.”
Concerns have been raised that Chinese yards could have an unfair advantage due to state subsidies. However, the Scottish Government has now made clear that it will not intervene to prevent them from bidding.
ukdefencejournal.org.uk/scot-gov-rules