SCOTTISH Labour will force a Holyrood vote on the SNP’s “ferry failures” after a contract for new vessels went abroad, despite Scotland’s government owning a yard in contention.

CMal, which procure ships on behalf of its sister-company CalMac — both are publicly owned — had contracted for seven new small ships to ply inner island routes.

But a decision to award it to a Polish yard — rather than publicly owned Ferguson Marine — has been met with fury from workers and opposition politicians alike.

The episode marks the latest turn in the CalMac ferry saga, which has seen two ferries destined for the Arran route run seven years late and four times over budget, and their builder — Ferguson Marine — nationalised amid acrimonious disputes between management CMal over changes in specifications.

Slamming the decision, GMB Scotland convenor at the yard Alex Logan stated: “This is another blow to a workforce that has been used as a political punch bag for far too long.

“The reputation of skilled and committed workers has been dragged down by the incompetence and miscalculation of others.

“They deserve better and this contract should have allowed the yard to seize back a reputation for excellence unfairly torn away.

“The Scottish government is investing in the yard but what use is investment without contracts?

“We had a worldwide reputation for building small vessels and sending this work overseas makes no sense for the workers, for islanders or for the people of Scotland.

“We will continue to fight for future contracts to build on the strengths of this yard, its workers and apprentices, and secure a future building ships on the Clyde.”

Scottish Labour transport spokeswoman Claire Baker blamed the ferry crisis on governance structures put in place two decades ago by the Lab-Lib Dem Scottish executive to circumvent EU procurement legislation.

She said: “The SNP’s disastrous record of failure on ferries has caused misery for island communities, cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds, and damaged our economy and shipbuilding industry.

“The SNP is depriving Scotland’s iconic shipbuilding industry of sorely needed jobs and investment by sending contracts for new Scottish ferries overseas.

“Meanwhile, ministers get to pass the buck and hide behind overcrowded and confused governance structures.”

A CMal spokesperson said it “followed a robust procurement process.”

The Scottish government said: “We understand that Ferguson Marine Port Glasgow are disappointed not to be selected.”