Scotland’s ferry services could be nationalised after the government announced a review of tendering processes.
Transport Minister Humza Yousaf said fresh advice from EU bosses on how to award contracts could see lead to them being granted to an “in house” operator without the need to open the process to private bidders.
Mr Yousaf announced a nine-month review given the new advice, with the tendering process for the Gourock-Dunoon route suspended until it is concluded.
It is possible a new northern isles ferry contract, due to expire next year, could also be paused by the review – but Mr Yousaf said it was “highly likely” current operator Serco would have its operation extended to 2019.
Mr Yousaf said: “We need to give very careful consideration to the potential impact of any changes before final decisions are made.
“Pausing the current tendering exercise for the Gourock-Dunoon service will give us time to consider these complex issues so we’re clear on how best to deliver ferry provision in the future.
“The policy review will also consider the implications for the northern isles services.
“We have already started engagement with the current operators of both services to discuss the implications of the review.”
The tendering process captured the public imagination last year amid concern that publicly-owned CalMac could lose out on a lifeline ferry contract – but it eventually won the day.
Scottish Labour welcomed the review, but the Scottish Conservatives expressed concerns that commercial ferry operators could be frozen out of bidding for contracts in the future.
Northern isles MSPs Tavish Scott and Liam McArthur said the review of the tendering process should not be used as an excuse to not press ahead with fare reductions for Orkney and Shetland.
In a joint statement, they said: “Islanders have been promised substantial reductions in the ferry fares we pay.
“The Scottish Government cut west coast fares by 50%.
“The northern isles want our fares to fall in line with those reductions to boost the islands’ economy and help local people, families and businesses with the cost of travelling on our lifeline routes.
“We want the transport minister to press ahead with these reductions no matter what happens to the re-tendering of the shipping contract.”
