Shipyard boss gets paid £45 a day in extra living expenses
THE new chief executive of the state-owned shipyard building two late and over-budget ferries on the Clyde, is being paid £45 a day living allowance during his stay in Scotland after moving from Canada.
John Petticrew took over as interim chief executive in March after his predecessor David Tydeman was sacked by the stateowned shipyard’s board.
Mr Petticrew is overseeing the remaining work on the Glen Sannox and its sister ship Glen Rosa, which are intended to serve Calmac’s west coast routes.
At the time of his appointment, minister Mairi Mcallan said Mr Petticrew would be relocating from Canada – where he lives – to work at the Port Glasgow shipyard.
However Holyrood’s Public Audit Committee heard yesterday that Mr Petticrew had not moved to Scotland and is travelling to and from Ferguson Marine.
The committee heard from several officials from the Scottish Government’s strategic commercial assets division.
Under questioning from Conservative MSP Graham Simpson, deputy director Dermot Rhatigan said: “He hasn’t received a relocation package, he hasn’t relocated to Scotland. Like all other employees at the yard, he’s entitled to claim for travel and subsistence.”
Mr Rhatigan said he is unaware of any further details, though he understands Mr Petticrew is not travelling “weekly”.
Officials also told the committee a decision on further investment in Ferguson Marine will be made “shortly”.
Mr Simpson later posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying: “People will be astonished to learn that we are paying for the stand-in boss of Ferguson Marine to commute – from Canada.”
But The Herald understands the amount the new interim chief executive John Petticrew is receiving by way of “living allowance while in Scotland” is £45 a day and he has already moved from Canada.
Over the duration of his six month interim position the consultant could accumulate over £8,000 on top of his £100,000 halfyear earnings.
Ferguson Marine say that when he was asked to come to Scotland from Canada to take up the interim chief executive’s position, his economy flight to Scotland was paid for by the state-controlled company.
But the company insist he has not travelled to Canada since he took up the role and has “no plans to do so”.
Mr Petticrew took over as Ferguson Marine interim chief executive in March after former chief executive David Tydeman was sacked amid mounting delays in the ferry building process.
The former £232,500-a-year executive has received the equivalent of six months’ salary plus outstanding holiday payment as part of an agreement over his sacking.
Mr Tydeman was fired on March 26 after a tumultuous two years at the helm of the yard after he told ministers there would be even further delays to the MV Glen Sannox and MV Glen Rosa.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The interim Chief Executive of Ferguson Marine’s remuneration package includes a travel and subsistence allowance for work-related travel only.
“Ferguson Marine paid for the interim CEO to travel to Scotland in March. In line with his contractual obligations, the CEO of Ferguson Marine will not return to Canada within his six-month tenure.”
Ministers say the interim chief executive’s remuneration package was approved by ministers “in line with the requirements of the Scottish Public Finance Manual”.
A Ferguson Marine source said: “Mr Petticrew has not travelled to Canada since he took up the interim CEO role, and has no plans to do so. His priority is completing and handing over both vessels as quickly as possible.”
The two ferries at Ferguson Marine are six years late and will cost around three times the original price of £97 million. The latest delays mean the Glen Sannox will not be handed over until July, due to ongoing problems installing the liquified natural gas fuel system.